Pair Charged With Robbing For Drugs
INDIO -Two 36-year-old men robbed more than 30 people across the Coachella Valley in crime spree because they needed money for drugs, a prosecutor said today.
George Gomez Jr. and Raul Pardo Avina are charged with 31 felony counts, including armed robbery, attempted robbery, grand theft and burglary.
Deputy District Attorney Deana Bohenek said during opening statements today that the crime wave started in May 2006, with robberies occurring across the region — from Palm Springs to Mecca.
She said that the defendants did not want to work and committed the robberies to help them pay for drugs.
The two defendants would confront people in front of their homes, at shopping centers and as they were coming and going from work, Bohenek said.
“People were just going about their lives,” she said.
She said that one man had gone to a Food 4 Less in Coachella to fill up some water jugs when Avina came up behind the victim with a 0.45 semi-automatic handgun.
“He said, `Give me your wallet,”‘ Bohenek said, adding that the victim was “scared for his life” and handed over the wallet.
The prosecutor said Gomez was waiting nearby in a vehicle with the engine running, and Avina got into the car and drove away. The suspects allegedly confessed to some of the robberies in a tape-recorded interview, according to the prosecution.
The defendant’s attorneys did not give an opening statement.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Randall White declared a mistrial in their first trial in July because of juror misconduct. A juror in the first trial had sent a note to White stating that there was a problem with the accuracy of several Spanish interpreters who were translating for witnesses. That juror had discussed the testimony with other jurors, which is not allowed until jury deliberations begin.
Today, White instructed the jury in the defendant’s second trial to trust the testimony provided by translators for witnesses that do not speak English.
The judge told the panel to write him a note if they notice any discrepancy, but they should not discuss the issue with other jurors.
