January 22, 2026 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on December 22, 2025, at 2:10 p.m., deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to the 74000 block of Joni Drive, Palm Desert, regarding a report of a burglary. The victim reported multiple items were stolen, including several firearms.

The Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) assumed the investigation and identified the suspects responsible for the burglary. The suspects were identified as Johnnie Schoonover, a 32-year-old resident of Banning, and Joshua Whitis, a 32-year-old resident of Beaumont.

On January 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., RBST, with the assistance of the Palm Desert Business District Team, Rancho Mirage Problem Oriented Policing Team, and the Riverside Sheriff’s Office K-9 Team, located both Schoonover and Whitis in the 11000 block of Legends Lane, Beaumont. Deputies subsequently served a search warrant at that location, and a separate location in the 1100 block of East Ramsey Street, Banning. Several stolen items were recovered during service of the search warrants, including the stolen firearms, as well as an additional unserialized firearm.

Schoonover and Whitis were transported and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility for burglary, conspiracy, grand theft of firearms, and possession of an unserialized firearm. Whitis was also determined to have several active felony warrants for his arrest for being a felon in possession of ammunition, as well as narcotic-related offenses.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Pouchoulen of the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 836-1600.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant James Mills

File # T253560106

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office