Two Morongo Basin residents accepted a plea bargain last week for a robbery and kidnapping of a Yucca Valley woman in December. According to a press release from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Department, deputies from the Specialized Enforcement Division executed arrest warrants at the homes of Jeremy Harper, 32 of Yucca Valley, and Samantha Rodriguez, also age 32 of Morongo Valley on December 20. The two were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping following the December 17 incident. According to the release, the pair offered a 30-year-old female resident of Yucca Valley a ride home after the three met at a Morongo Valley home. The couple did not take the victim home but headed into the desert from Sunfair Road in Joshua Tree. The victim was assaulted by both suspects when she attempted to exit the vehicle. After taking the victim’s property, the couple left the victim in the desert. Responding to a call, deputies contacted the victim 4:21 a.m. She was disoriented and had visible injuries to her face. Jeremy Harper and Samantha Rodriguez were booked into the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of robbery. Jeremy Harper pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree robbery and was sentenced to 78 days in jail. Samantha Rodriguez also pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and was sentenced to 90 days in a work release program.
