Man accused of breaking into San Marcos apartments will stand trial

VISTA (CNS) – A man accused of breaking into a pair of San Marcos apartments and entering bedrooms where two young girls were sleeping must stand trial on lewd act and burglary charges, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Dwayne Farrell, 24, was arrested Feb. 17, hours after the early morning break-ins at an apartment complex in the 500 block of Rush Drive. Blood found in one of the apartments led police to Farrell, who lived about a half-mile away.

The sheriff’s department alleged the blood was left behind when Farrell likely jumped from a second-story balcony after the “brazen burglary.”

Farrell is suspected of entering a first-floor apartment through the sliding glass door about 5:15 a.m. and standing over the bed of a sleeping 7-year-old girl. When Farrell noticed that the child woke up, he ran out through the sliding glass door, authorities allege.

Farrell is suspected in another break-in 25 minutes later. Sheriff’s officials said a woman was sleeping with her 8-year-old daughter in an apartment on the second floor of the complex when she heard heavy breathing and found a man beside the bed.

Farrell allegedly escaped again through a sliding glass door, then jumped from the balcony.

Vista Judge Harry Elias found that enough evidence was presented at Farrell’s preliminary hearing to proceed to trial. A Superior Court arraignment was set for Dec. 16.