Repeat offender arrested after attacking pregnant woman

A man accused of robbing a 9-month pregnant woman at her house is facing charges of robbery and a $10,000 cash bail.

Thomas Daniel Riner, 41, appeared before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho at the Superior Court in Susupe last Monday morning for his bail hearing. He had been in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

Camacho scheduled him to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Oct.16 at 10am, and for an arraignment on Oct. 21 at 9am. Riner was then remanded back to DOC.

Attorney Katie Comstock was assigned as Riner’s defense and assistant attorneys general Dan Johnson and David Krach will represent the government.

According to court documents, police received a call on Friday, Oct. 4, at 10:31am regarding a pregnant woman who was robbed at her house in Kannat Tabla. Police were also told that the two male suspects ran into a boonie area.

Stolen from the victim were her Michael Kors wallet, mayor’s ID, WIC ID card, and food stamps—items with an overall value of more than $300.

The victim told police she was overdue in her pregnancy and would need to undergo a caesarian section because the baby was breech. She said she was in pain and in shock and was shaking because the two men really scared her.

The victim said she had just come home from shopping when she heard her neighbor’s dog barking. She walked toward the back of her house while holding her wallet and her cell phone in her right hand. When she got closer to the refrigerator, she was surprised to see a man standing next to her about 3 feet away. She described the man was about 5’8,” white complexioned, skinny, wearing a black bucket hat, torn-up gray T-shirt, and dark pants.

She told police the man yanked her wallet that was in her right hand, causing her cell phone to fall on the ground. She said she saw another individual wearing a hoodie who was shorter and had brown skin color. Both fled into the boonie area and headed south.

The victim said she had a hard time picking up the cell phone because of her condition and because she was really scared.

DPS detective noted that Riner matched the description of the perpetrator and was living just south of the pregnant woman’s house.

The victim identified Riner in a six-photo lineup shown to her by detectives.

Riner has a past criminal record, one in 2017, when he was arrested for theft, misuse of credit card, and issuance of bad checks and another in March 2015, after police arrested Riner in San Vicente for stealing a 1997 Honda Civic sedan. In September 2012, Riner was also arrested for his involvement in a series of burglaries in Kagman.

As to the second suspect, no information was provided and whether or not he was arrested is unclear.