A mother uses her daughter as a "lookout" and steals thousands of dollars from a liquor store in Landers 
DATE/TIME: Friday, February 2, 2016 2230 Hours
INCIDENT: Penal Code 273(a)(a) Child Endangerment / Penal Code 459 Burglary
LOCATION: 282 State Route 247 (Mojave Liquor) Landers
SUSPECT(S): Jennifer Brannon, age 35, a resident of Landers
VICTIM(S): Mojave Liquor
SUMMARY: On Friday, February 2, 2016 at approximately 10:30 p.m., deputies from the Morongo Basin Station responded to a robbery alarm at Mojave Liquor in Landers. Deputies arrived and contacted Jesus Cervantes, the store clerk, and learned a white female juvenile asked for help reaching an item from the back of the store. Cervantes assisted the juvenile and was distracted from the front counter. Cervantes returned to the front counter and found a drawer open and the bank bag with that days funds missing.
The juveniles’ mother, Jennifer Brannon, arrived at the store and was interviewed by deputies. Brannon’s story differed from her daughters and the two were detained pending the investigation. The store owner, arrived and gave deputies access to surveillance video.
After a lengthy investigation deputies learned Brannon used one of her juvenile daughters as a lookout and sent the other inside to distract the clerk. When the clerk was distracted, and no other customers were around, Brannon entered the store and stole several thousands of dollars. Brannon ran away from the store to a waiting vehicle. Brannon disguised her appearance, covered her face and wore gloves during the theft.
Brannon left the daughter used as the distraction in the store, picked up her daughter, who was the lookout, and drove a couple miles away. Brannon changed her clothes and shoes and prepared to return to the store for her other daughter. Brannon left the “lookout daughter” in the desert with all of the cash and suspect clothing.
Deputies discovered the “lookout daughter” near the location where Brannon left her several hours later. The “lookout daughter” was in possession of the stolen cash. Deputies located the stolen bank bag and suspect clothing buried in the nearby desert.
Brannon was arrested for violation of Penal Code 273(a)(a), and booked into the Morongo Jail without incident. Brannon has since been released on her own recognizance and has a pending court date.
Refer: Sergeant Jim Thornburg
Station: Morongo Basin Station
Case #: 091600204
Phone No. (760) 366-4175
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD - Morongo Basin Sheriff's Department
63665 Twentynine Palms Highway
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1