Posts Tagged ‘robbery’

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TWO THIRD-STRIKERS AND ASSOCIATE DUBBED “MARKET DUO” IN COURT FOR COMMITTING FIVE ORANGE COUNTY BANK ROBBERIES

Friday, January 27th, 2012

*Last robbery at a Placentia bank resulted in a high-speed police chase on a freeway

SANTA ANA - Two third-strikers and an associate dubbed the “Market Duo” Bank Robbers by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will be in court today for committing robberies at five Orange County banks. Paul Acosta Jr., 28, Los Angeles, is charged with 12 felony counts of second degree robbery and five counts of second degree commercial burglary. Acosta is also charged with sentencing enhancements for prison priors for a May 2010 and January 2008 felony thefts. Andres Soto Jr., 50, Whittier, is charged with 10 felony counts of second degree robbery and four counts of second degree commercial burglary. Soto is a third striker for a September 1983 residential burglary and a July 1993 bank robbery. Richard Valdez, 52, La Habra, is charged with two felony counts of second degree robbery and one felony count of second degree commercial burglary. Valdez is a third striker for an April 1983 robbery, and a May 2003 assault with deadly weapon. If convicted on all counts, Acosta faces a maximum sentence of 15 to 20 years in state prison and Soto and Valdez face a maximum sentence of life in state prison with the possibility of parole.

The defendants are being held on $1 million bail and Soto is scheduled to be arraigned today, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Acosta and Valdez are scheduled for pre-trial hearing today, Jan. 20, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Acosta is accused of planning the five robberies at banks and recruiting Soto and Valdez for their expertise.

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MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR VETERANS DAY ROBBERY-MURDER OF WWII VETERAN

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

*Defendant and co-defendant left victim in a coma for three years and were charged with murder after the victim’s death

SANTA ANA - A man was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the beating-murder of a WWII veteran during a robbery on Veterans Day. The victim was left in a coma for over three years until he died as a direct result of his injuries sustained in the 2003 attack. Curtis James Hill, 29, Huntington Beach, was found guilty by a jury Nov. 1, 2011, of one felony count of special circumstances murder in the commission of a robbery.

Co-defendant John Kirk McKinney, 29, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder in the commission of a robbery and faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. McKinney faces a jury trial Feb. 27, 2011, in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

The following was argued by the People during the trial against Hill. McKinney is accused of committing the following crimes:

At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2003, McKinney and Hill entered the parked van of 77-year-old Cecil Warren, a WWII veteran, with the intention of stealing items from inside. The victim, who was working as a handyman cleaning the Huntington Beach bank parking lot where his van was parked, noticed the defendants in his van. When Warren asked Hill and McKinney what they were doing, the defendants attacked the victim. The defendants hit and kicked Warren in the head, robbed him of his wallet, and left the victim on the ground before fleeing the scene.

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17-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ENLISTING TWO GANG MEMBERS TO KIDNAP ROOMMATE’S 15-DAY-OLD BABY

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

SANTA ANA - A 17-year-old girl, who was direct filed and will be tried as an adult, will be arraigned today for enlisting to criminal street gang members to steal her roommate’s 15-day-old newborn. Gladys Remigio, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count each of conspiracy to commit a crime, first degree residential robbery, first degree residential robbery, and attempted kidnapping with sentencing enhancements for  criminal street gang activity. If convicted on all charges, Remigio faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison. The People will be requesting Remigio be held on $1 million bail at her arraignment today, Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

Co-defendants Steven David Quirino, 20, and Robert Henry Rodriguez, 19, both of Santa Ana, are charged with one felony count each of conspiracy to commit a crime, first degree residential robbery, first degree residential robbery, and street terrorism, with a sentencing enhancement for criminal street gang activity. Quirino also faces an additional felony count charge of receiving stolen property. If convicted on all charges, they face a maximum sentence of life in state prison. The People will be requesting Quirino be held on $1 million bail at his arraignment today, Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Rodriguez is scheduled for a continued arraignment Dec. 16, 2011, 8:30 a.m. in Department C-57.

Quirino and Rodriguez are accused of being members of a Hispanic criminal street gang. Remigio is accused of being friends with the two gang members.

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MAN FACES TRIAL FOR ROBBERY-MURDER OF MARRIED FATHER OF TWO AFTER GAINING ACCESS TO HOME WITH PROMISE OF SEX

Sunday, December 4th, 2011

SANTA ANA - A man faces trial tomorrow for the bludgeoning-murder of a married father of two in order to rob him under the pretense of meeting for sex. Jaime Jezzuel Lopez, 29, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder in the commission of a robbery and faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.  Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, at 9:15 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On the morning of June 4, 2007, Rejinold Harry, 45, a married father of two sons, invited Lopez to his one bedroom Fullerton apartment while the victim’s two sons were at school and his wife was at work. Lopez is accused of entering the apartment under the pretense of having sex with the victim with the intention of robbing him.

After Harry had undressed, Lopez is accused of murdering him by hitting him multiple times in the back of the head with a heavy object. He is accused of then ransacking the apartment, stealing money and jewelry, and fleeing the scene.

At 1:30 p.m., Harry’s naked, murdered body was found lying face down on the bed by his wife.

The case was investigated by the Fullerton Police Department, but went cold.

In 2008, Lopez was linked to the murder through DNA found at the crime scene on the rim of a drinking glass.

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JURY RECOMMENDS DEATH PENALTY FOR MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING HOME DEPOT MANAGER DURING STORE ROBBERY

Friday, November 4th, 2011

SANTA ANA - A jury has recommended that a San Diego man receive the death penalty today after being convicted of shooting and murdering a Tustin Home Depot Manager. Jason Russell Richardson, 40, Oceanside, was found guilty by a jury April 28, 2010, of one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of robbery and burglary, and the sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death were found true. He is scheduled to be formally sentenced Nov. 18, 2011, in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

Two previous juries were unable to reach a verdict regarding death on May 20, 2010, and April 15, 2011.

On the morning of Feb. 9, 2007, Richardson left his Oceanside home wearing a full-body painter’s suit, sunglasses, dust mask, and gloves. At approximately 10:00 a.m., Richardson entered a Home Depot store in Tustin carrying a black bag with the intention of stealing money from the store. He wore a disguise to avoid being recognized while trying to blend in with customers in the store.

The defendant approached store employees and asked for the manager. Richardson approached store manager Thomas Egan, pulled out a gun, and demanded all the cash kept in the store’s safe. After Egan informed Richardson he did not have access to the safe, the defendant headed towards the store’s front cash registers. Egan instructed nearby employees to call 911 and then followed Richardson to the front of the store.

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MAN FACES TRIAL FOR VETERANS DAY ROBBERY-MURDER OF WWII VETERAN

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

*Defendant and co-defendant left victim in a coma for three years and were charged with murder after the victim’s death

SANTA ANA - A man faces trial tomorrow for the beating-murder of a WWII veteran during a robbery on Veterans Day. The victim was left in a coma for over three years until he died as a direct result of his injuries sustained in the 2003 attack. Curtis James Hill, 29, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder in the commission of a robbery and faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

Co-defendant John Kirk McKinney, 29, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder in the commission of a robbery and faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. McKinney will be tried separately to Hill and his jury trial date is to be determined.

At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2003, McKinney and Hill are accused of entering the parked van of 77-year-old Cecil Warren, a WWII veteran, with the intention of stealing items from inside. The victim, who was working as a handyman cleaning the Huntington Beach bank parking lot where his van was parked, noticed the defendants in his van. When Warren asked Hill and McKinney what they were doing, the defendants are accused of attacking the victim. The defendants are accused of hitting and kicking Warren in the head, robbing him of his wallet, and leaving the victim on the ground before fleeing the scene.

Approximately 30 minutes later, a pedestrian found Warren bleeding and moaning on the ground in the parking lot and called 911. The victim gave police a brief description of the two defendants before losing consciousness. Warren was transported to the hospital, where he spent the next three and a half years in a coma.

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MAN FACES DEATH PENALTY PHASE TRIAL AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF MURDERING HOME DEPOT MANAGER DURING STORE ROBBERY

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

SANTA ANA - A San Diego man faces a penalty phase jury trial tomorrow to determine if he should receive the death penalty after being convicted of shooting and murdering a Tustin Home Depot Manager. Jason Russell Richardson, 40, Oceanside, was found guilty by a jury April 28, 2010, of one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of robbery and burglary, and the sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death were found true.

The District Attorney is seeking the death penalty in this case. Two pervious juries were unable to reach a verdict regarding death on May 20, 2010, and April 15, 2011. Opening statements in the re-trial of the penalty phase are expected to begin tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On the morning of Feb. 9, 2007, Richardson left his Oceanside home wearing a full-body painter’s suit, sunglasses, dust mask, and gloves. At approximately 10:00 a.m., Richardson entered a Home Depot store in Tustin carrying a black bag with the intention of stealing money from the store. He wore a disguise to avoid being recognized while trying to blend in with customers in the store.

The defendant approached store employees and asked for the manager. Richardson approached store manager Thomas Egan, pulled out a gun, and demanded all the cash kept in the store’s safe. After Egan informed Richardson he did not have access to the safe, the defendant headed towards the store’s front cash registers. Egan instructed nearby employees to call 911 and then followed Richardson to the front of the store.

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MAN CONVICTED OF BEATING AND STRANGLING-MURDER OF PROSTITUTE IN HOTEL ROOM

Monday, September 26th, 2011

SANTA ANA - A man was convicted today of murdering a prostitute by severely beating and strangling her to death in her hotel room. Cesar Gomez, 36, El Monte, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of a robbery. Gomez faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole at his sentencing hearing, Dec. 2, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On Aug. 19, 2009, 24-year-old Ashley Lilly checked into a hotel room at the Crown Plaza Anaheim Resort on Harbor Boulevard. The victim posted her profile on an escort website with information about the hotel where she was staying and that she would be there for three days. Men could contact the victim through the escort site to arrange to meet Lilly for sex, and she would provide them with her room number over the phone or the Internet. Gomez contacted Lilly through the escort website and set up a meeting.

Late on the night of Aug. 20, 2009, or early in the morning of Aug. 21, 2009, Gomez showed up at Lilly’s hotel room. He severely beat her face and body and strangled her to death. No sexual assault took place. After murdering the victim, the defendant ransacked the hotel room and stole the victim’s personal items. Gomez then fled the scene with the victim’s phone and laptop.

Later in the morning on Aug. 21, 2009, hotel staff found the murdered victim on the floor of her room and contacted the Garden Grove Police Department, who investigated this case with the assistance of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Gomez was linked to the crime through blood DNA collected from the crime scene, and the victim’s laptop was found in his home. He was subsequently arrested by Garden Grove Police.

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Two Charged in Barbershop Owner’s Murder

Monday, September 26th, 2011

PASADENA – A man and woman were charged today with capitol murder in the Tuesday fatal stabbing of a well-known Pasadena barbershop owner who was found behind his store, the District Attorney’s office announced.

Davon Westley Moore, 22 (dob 10-22-88), and Sabrina Octavia King, 18 (dob 11-12-92), are scheduled to be arraigned after 1:30 p.m. at Pasadena Superior Court, Department D, said Deputy District Attorney Shelley Dominguez with the Hardcore Gang Division. They are being held without bail.

Moore, of Los Angeles, and King, of Compton, are charged in case GA084339 with the Sept. 20 murder of King King. The defendant is no relation to the victim.

The special circumstances of murder during commission of a robbery and burglary makes each eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors will decide later whether they will seek the death penalty for the defendants.

The 43-year-old victim was found dead early Wednesday in a parking lot behind his barbershop in the 900 block of East Washington Avenue. The complaint alleges that Moore personally used a knife.

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THIRD STRIKER ON PAROLE SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ARMED HOME-INVASION ROBBERY OF DAYCARE PROVIDER WITH SIX CHILDREN IN HER CARE

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

NEWPORT BEACH - A third striker parolee was sentenced today to 22 years in state prison for robbing of a woman while she was caring for six children in her home. Hung Trong Do, 34, Stanton, pleaded guilty to the court May 13, 2011, to one felony count each of first degree robbery, first degree residential burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Do admitted the sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a firearm.  The defendant is a third striker with two prior strike convictions for a 1996 attempted murder and a 2008 residential burglary and has a prior prison conviction for possession of a firearm in 2005.

At approximately 12:00 p.m. on June 3, 2009, Do broke into the Irvine home of Jane Doe, where the victim ran a daycare for six children ranging in age from 6 months to 3 years old. Jane Doe was sitting on the couch in the living room feeding baby John Doe. There were five other children in the room.

Do entered the home through the garage door into the living room, pointed a loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic firearm at Jane Doe’s head, and demanded money. He pressed the gun barrel into the back of her neck while the victim pleaded with the defendant to not harm the children. Do grabbed Jane Doe by the collar of her shirt and walked her to the dining room area while she was holding baby John Doe in her arms. Do forced Jane Doe to take money out of her purse and stole $100 from her.

When Jane Doe’s husband arrived home during the robbery, Do pointed the gun and began arguing with him. Jane Doe managed to get to the phone in the dining room and call 911. Do fled the scene.

The Irvine Police Department found Do loitering in a nearby apartment complex. The police recovered the loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic firearm in some nearby bushes after being alerted to the weapon by a police K9.

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