Riverside Man Held on $280,000 Bail After Series of Campus-Near Robberies

Shareef Maki Pendergrass, 18, remains in custody on a $280,000 bail bond after pleading not guilty to multiple felony charges in Riverside County Superior Court. The defendant was arrested Monday and is currently held at the Byrd Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear before a judge on November 9 to argue for a reduction in his bail amount.

Pendergrass stands accused of robbing and attempting to rob individuals in neighborhoods near the University of California, Riverside. Judge Gail O’Rane set the bail reduction hearing at the request of the defendant’s public defender. The court will consider various factors, including the lack of a prior criminal history, to determine if the current bond requirement should be lowered.

Riverside Police Detective Steve Espinosa stated that most of the alleged activity occurred in the Canyon Crest area, within a couple of miles of the university campus. According to Espinosa, Pendergrass was riding a scooter on the evening of October 23 when he confronted a pedestrian near the Islamic Center of Riverside at 1038 Linden Street.

“The suspect demanded money, and the victim believed the suspect was armed with a handgun,” Espinosa said. The victim handed over cash and valuables before the defendant fled. Within a couple of hours, Pendergrass allegedly confronted another individual outside the Stonehaven Apartments at the intersection of Blaine Street and Canyon Crest Drive, demanding money that the victim did not have.

On Saturday at approximately 7:07 p.m., officers responded to a third incident at the University Crest Apartments at 3130 Canyon Crest Drive. Espinosa noted the circumstances were similar to the previous evening’s robberies. A joint investigation between the Riverside Police Department and UCR Police Department identified Pendergrass as the perpetrator. Officers served a search warrant at his Watkins Drive apartment, just off campus, and took him into custody without incident on Monday.

Pendergrass is charged with one count of robbery, three counts of attempted robbery, and one count of witness intimidation. The victims were not identified, and none reported injuries. Authorities did not disclose whether the defendant is a student at UCR or provide additional background details.

The next procedural step is the bail reduction hearing on November 9. Until then, Pendergrass will remain in county custody. The court will review the case details and the defense’s arguments regarding the bond amount at that time.