Robberies Orange County

A 23-year-old man suspected of robbing two boys at a shopping center Tuesday was arrested shortly afterward when he arrived home, where five sheriff's deputies happened to be working on an unrelated matter near his house. The deputies were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle about 2:30 p.m. when they saw Michael John Fletcher of Mission Viejo parallel-parking his blue sedan nearby, sheriff's Lt. Keith Brown said.

In the first case of its kind in Orange County and only the second statewide, prosecutors issued an arrest warrant Friday for a robbery suspect known only by his DNA.

A jewelry courier was robbed of a satchel of diamonds and cash Tuesday, the fourth such robbery in Orange County in two weeks. The 37-year-old Laguna Beach courier, who police did not identify, had just left the First Federal Bank in the 24000 block of Avenida de la Carlota at 12:44 p.m. and had placed the satchel of diamonds and cash in the back seat of his car when he was attacked, Sheriff's Lt. Lynn Nehring said.

A Costa Mesa convenience store clerk suffered minor injuries Sunday after a man hit her in the head with a blunt object before grabbing money from the cash register, police said. The man fled California Stop Market in a silver Buick after the 2 p.m. robbery, said police Sgt. Tim Schennum. As he backed out of the store parking lot on West 19th Street, he crashed into a minivan, Schennum said. Police believe he and the driver may have exchanged words.

Six gunmen robbed a computer company in Irvine of thousands of dollars' worth of computer chips, the third such robbery in Orange County since February, police said Friday. Police said they have not linked the robberies, but in each case, employees were forced to the floor and tied up by robbers, who then took all computer chips. At 5:20 p.m.

Reputed underworld figure Robert (Fat Bobby) Paduano, accused of trying to take over the Newport Beach drug trade, pleaded guilty Monday to 43 felony counts of residential robberies, extortion, conspiracy to sell cocaine and false imprisonment. As part of an agreement with county prosecutors, Paduano was sentenced to eight years in state prison. Paduano's guilty plea came after a lively and unusual exchange between the defendant and Deputy Dist. Atty. Christopher J. Evans.

Police have arrested a man suspected of about 20 armed robberies throughout Orange County committed by a gunman nicknamed "the John Goodman bandit" for his likeness to the well-known actor. "Thanks to an alert Huntington Beach patrol officer, the streets of Orange County are much safer today," Detective Sgt. Ed Deuel said in a prepared statement announcing the arrest of Michael Angelo Powell, 31, of Costa Mesa.

A female stripper was raped and robbed at gunpoint Monday night after performing a private dance for a man at an abandoned house, authorities said. "At the conclusion of her dance, [the man] produced a handgun and raped her and robbed her of the money he had paid her," said Brea Police Capt. Doug Dickerson. The woman, whose name has not been released, had been accompanied to the house, Dickerson said.

Robberies that take a deadly turn are on the rise in Orange County, increasing an average of 70% each year between 1987 and 1991, according to data from the state Department of Justice. While not the main cause of homicides in Orange County, robberies have been the fastest-growing major cause of homicides over the past five years, outpacing gang-related and drug-related slayings, the data show. In 1987, there were four robberies in Orange County that resulted in the victim's death.

Three masked suspects robbed the jewelry department of the Robinson's store in the MainPlace mall Tuesday night, smashing the glass cases and fleeing with an unknown amount of jewelry, authorities said. The robbery occurred shortly before 8:45 p.m., while the store was open, Santa Ana Police Lt. Greg Cooper said. Originally, some people thought shots had been fired, but it was determined that that was the sound of glass breaking, he said.

A couple who posed as police officers and targeted Latino dayworkers in more than 30 robberies were arrested over the weekend at a Stanton restaurant, sheriff's officials said Monday. Deputies said they found cash, a loaded weapon, wigs and police paraphernalia that included a fake badge and a "Police" T-shirt when they arrested David Gilmore Bingham, 27, and Amber Michelle Vanhorn, 33, both of Stanton.

An armored truck guard was shot to death by a robber Monday in front of employees at an Anaheim catering truck company. The Brinks guard was in a hallway when a gunman confronted him and fired once, striking him in the head, police said. The 29-year-old guard died at the scene. The gunman fled from Orange County Food Services in the 3000 block of East Mira Loma Avenue and was at large Monday night. Anaheim Police Sgt. Mike Hidalgo said investigators had not determined how much money was taken.

A man who spent 1 1/2 years in jail for a Santa Ana street robbery was released Friday night after a judge set aside his conviction in light of new evidence that someone else committed the crime. Judge Richard F. Toohey granted Richard Eddie Perez a new trial after defense attorneys presented evidence that linked the robbery to a man who is awaiting trial in a string of highly publicized rapes and robberies last year.

A man who spent 1 1/2 years in jail for a Santa Ana street robbery was released Friday after attorneys presented new evidence that someone else committed the crime. Judge Richard Toohey set aside the conviction of Richard Eddie Perez because of evidence that defense attorneys say links the robbery to a man who is awaiting trial in a string of highly publicized rapes and robberies last year.

Two men stole jewelry and a small amount of cash after entering a Stanton home Monday and tying up three residents at gunpoint, Orange County sheriff's authorities said. The robbers, who wore black stockings over their faces, entered the home in the 8100 block of Laguna Court through a back door at about 10 a.m., took the items and fled in a red Honda Prelude, sheriff's spokesman John Fleischman said. One of the men carried a handgun, he said.

Garden Grove police Sunday arrested three men suspected of robbing a Blockbuster Video employee as she tried to deposit the store's receipts at the ATM of a local bank. Police Sgt. Ben Lux said the suspects confronted the employee at 9:56 a.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank branch at Harbor and Garden Grove boulevards. Witnesses told police the suspects grabbed the money and took off in a Plymouth Neon.

A couple suspected in a series of robberies in Orange County, San Diego and Sacramento were arrested after allegedly robbing an art supply shop here Monday afternoon. After a short chase, police captured the couple Monday afternoon after they allegedly robbed the Michaels Arts and Crafts store on Orangethorpe Avenue at gunpoint at about 1:15 p.m. Police did not say how much money was taken.

The so--called "underwear bandit," who admitted a series of crimes in Los Angeles County and is suspected of a string of robberies in Orange County, was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison. Bruce Allen Lyons, 33, of Moreno Valley, an unemployed bus driver, earned the nickname after authorities learned that he made a number of female employees of the stores he robbed take off their underwear. Lyons was arrested Oct. 23 in connection with robberies that took place in September and October.

A judge on Friday ordered a Garden Grove man released from prison until he decides whether to overturn a robbery conviction that has kept the defendant behind bars for nearly two years. Citing "substantial legal issues" raised by defense attorneys, Orange County Superior Court Judge Daniel J. Didier ordered George Lopez released without bail until a hearing next month. The judge said he no longer considers the 19-year-old a danger to society.

A judge Friday ordered a Garden Grove man released from prison until a court decides whether to overturn a robbery conviction that has kept the defendant behind bars for nearly two years. Citing "substantial legal issues" raised by defense attorneys, Orange County Superior Court Judge Daniel J. Didier ordered George Lopez released without bail until a hearing next month. The judge also said he no longer considers the 19-year-old a danger to society.