Two men arrested for convenience store robbery

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department have arrested two men who robbed the AM/PM convenience store at the intersection of Main Street and C Avenue this weekend.

Sunday night, just before 2 a.m., two Hispanic males brought beer to the checkout counter. There, one man then pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the clerk and demanded money. His accomplice then went around the counter and took the clerk's wallet and emptied cash from the cash register. The pair then left the scene in an older model white Ford Explorer.

Deputy Scott LaFond identified Hesperia resident John Carl Sosa, 26, as the man with the gun, based on a witness and surveillance video.

Eight hours later, Hesperia station deputies served a warrant at Sosa's Hesperia residence. Not only did they find him there, deputies reportedly also uncovered a pair of loaded handguns – the one apparently used in the robbery had been reported stolen in Apple Valley – as well as marijuana prepackaged for sale and other drug sale paraphernalia.

Sosa, a documented gang member with ties to Riverside and San Bernardino County gangs, was arrested, charged with armed robbery, possession of stolen property and the gang enhancement to the charges. He was booked at West Valley Detention Center.

Early Tuesday morning, just before 2 a.m., Hesperia station deputies responded to a fight at the Rocks Club on the 17100 block of Main Street. One of those involved turned out to be the second suspect in the AM/PM robbery: Hesperia resident Giovanny Velasquez, 30.

Velasquez, who reported had planned to leave for Texas later on Tuesday, was arrested and booked at Victor Valley Jail.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Hesperia sheriff's station at 760-947-1500 or call the anonymous WE-TIP line at 800-782-7463.

Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at beau@hesperiastar.com. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/HesperiaStar.