SANTA ANA, Calif. – Three men have been charged with the armed robbery of a Mission Viejo jewelry store and throwing the stolen items out of a car window on the 405 freeway. Levon Michael Tippit, 23, Inglewood, Devan Devell Howard, 18, Los Angeles, and Marshawn Marshall, 18, Palmdale, are each charged with three felony counts of second degree robbery, one felony count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, one felony count of unlawful taking of a vehicle, one felony count of receiving stolen property, three felony counts of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud, or deceit, and sentencing enhancements for being armed with an assault weapon, being armed with a firearm, and property loss over $200,000. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 24 years in state prison.  Marshall is scheduled to be arraigned today, Nov. 9, 2015, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

Co-defendants Tippit and Howard were arraigned Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, and are scheduled for pre-trial Nov. 17, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

On Oct. 21, 2015, Tippit, Howard, and Marshall are accused of arming themselves with a semiautomatic firearm and entering the Fredric H. Rubel Jewelry store inside The Shops at Mission Viejo. The defendants are accused of entering the business and threatening the jewelry store employees with the firearm. The defendants are accused of breaking the glass display cases in the jewelry store and stealing jewelry and Rolex wristwatches. The defendants are accused of then putting the stolen items in a bag and fleeing the scene.

Approximately 30 minutes after the robbery, the defendants are accused of throwing a bag containing the stolen items, which contained tracking devices, out of the window of a stolen 2002 Chevy Tahoe on the northbound 405 freeway. The items were ultimately recovered.

Witnesses on the freeway notified the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD), who investigated this case. On Nov. 4, 2015, OCSD arrested Tippet and Howard at residences in Inglewood. On Nov. 6, 2015, Marshall was arrested.

Deputy District Attorney Nancy Hayashida of the DNA Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 15HF1330 / November 09, 2015