The Yucca Valley man accused of murdering two people in Henderson, Nevada in October, and who posted a live video on Facebook as he was being pursued by—and as he shot at—Morongo Basin sheriff’s deputies, accepted a plea bargain to three counts of attempted murder in a Joshua Tree courtroom yesterday. Roger Tindell, 38, was charged with eight counts of attempted murder against a police officer and assault with a deadly weapon not a firearm. Tindell is accused of bludgeoning two people to death in their home in Henderson, Nevada, in October 2018. Less than a week later, he showed up at a home in the 7400 block of Elk Trail in Yucca Valley and shot Jonathan Lakes in the head, before fleeing westbound on the highway with his girlfriend. Deputies caught up to Tindell and during the pursuit on Highway 62 to Morongo Valley, Tindell recorded and posted a live video on Facebook, during which he said his girlfriend was his hostage. The video shows Tindell stopping the car and firing on the deputies who were pursuing him. The chase ended when Tindell crashed into a Sheriff’s patrol car. Tindell was shot in the arm during an exchange of gunfire. He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted murder on a police officer, and one count of attempted murder of Jonathan Lakes. Roger Tindell’s sentencing is set for December 20, but he is expected to receive a minimum of 47 years to life. After Tindell is sentenced for the attempted murder charges, he will be extradited to Nevada to face the murder charges there, which carry the death penalty.
