Murrieta Man Arrested In Alleged Craigslist Robbery

UPDATE: Background information about Donte Deshawn Williams was added to the story at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

A Murrieta man suspected of robbing a woman of an engagement ring after posing as a buyer on Craigslist was released on bail today.

Donte Deshawn Williams, 20, was taken into custody about 10 p.m. Monday at a residence in the 27000 block of Bolandra Court in Temecula. He was booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of armed robbery, and was released upon posting a $25,000 bond, according to jail records.

Williams was a linebacker and wide receiver for the Varsity football team in 2009-10, according to MaxPreps, a sports stats website.

Someone reported an armed robbery around 1:20 p.m. Monday in a parking lot at Jefferson Avenue and Overland Drive in Temecula. A woman had advertised an engagement ring for sale on Craigslist, and arranged to meet the person who agreed to buy it at the parking lot to finalize the sale.

"After seeing the ring, the suspect showed the victim a pistol in his waistband and then robbed the victim,"  sheriff's Sgt. Kevin McDonald said.

Investigators set up surveillance on an address associated with the suspect and got a search warrant for the residence. Williams was arrested when the warrant was served and evidence from the robbery was found, McDonald said. Authorities did not say if the ring was recovered.

Investigators also found a small amount of cocaine, scales and packaging inside the residence, McDonald said.

Marisa Malone, 18, of Temecula, was also taken into custody and charged with possession for sales of cocaine, according to the sergeant.

Williams has a June 27 arraignment date at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, according to jail records.