Man accused in Soboba reservation shooting, chase due to enter plea today
DESERT SUN WIRE SERVICES • OCTOBER 27, 2010
A man accused of shooting another man near the Soboba Indian reservation and then leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase through the Banning Pass is slated to be arraigned today.
Christobel Rowland Saubel, 18, is charged with attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, being in possession of a stolen firearm, jeopardizing public safety and multiple gun and great bodily injury allegations.
He's being held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.
On the night of Oct. 8, Saubel was arrested by sheriff's deputies in San Jacinto after he was pulled over for an apparent traffic violation and was allegedly found with two firearms stolen during an April burglary, authorities said.
The defendant posted $5,000 bail and was released hours later.
Shortly before 10 a.m. on Oct. 12, Saubel allegedly shot a man near the entrance to the Soboba reservation, at Soboba Road and Lake Park Drive, according to the sheriff's department.
The 50-year-old victim, whose name was not released, ran to a guard shack and asked the tribal security guards to call for help.
The wounded man reported that a suspect in a black BMW with paper plates had shot him as the two passed one another on Soboba Road, sheriff's officials said.
Moments later, deputies on patrol near Banning spotted the BMW and gave chase. Saubel allegedly raced at speeds in excess of 100 mph through the Banning Pass, with Beaumont and Banning police, along with California Highway Patrol officers, in pursuit.
Deputies deployed a spike strip on the Ramona Expressway, near Hemet Street, in San Jacinto, disabling the BMW, at which point Saubel allegedly fled on foot and was captured, according to sheriff's officials.
He could face more than 20 years in state prison if convicted on all counts.