Posted by on Mar 4, 2014 in News | 0 comments

There are many things that can drive a person to commit a robbery. With the state of the current economy, economic hardships could motivate someone to take desperate steps for their survival. Two recent bank robberies in the Orange County cities of Anaheim and Ladera Ranch have shown that certain individuals are willing to go to any measure, including threat of violence, for a big score.

According to Alyssa Duranty of the OC Register, Ian Jade Stone of Anaheim was arrested by detectives in San Luis Obispo under suspicion of armed robbery of a U.S. Bank in Anaheim Hills. Stone is said to have claimed he had a bomb strapped to him while he committed the robbery. In a separate incident, an unidentified man entered a U.S. Bank in Ladera Ranch and passed a note to a teller warning that he had a weapon and was willing to use it. He was given cash and left without harming anyone inside the bank. The suspect, who remains unapprehended, is described as a 35-year-old Latino man standing 5 feet 4 inches and weighing around 160 pounds.

California Law Concerning Robbery

According to the Official California Legislative Information website, robbery under Penal Code Section 211 is defined as “the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another…accomplished by means of force or fear.” In both instances previously mentioned, the suspects claimed to have possession of a weapon and threatened to use it if the bankers did not comply. Penal Code Section 213 states that robbery in the first degree is punishable of between three and nine years in state prison. Furthermore, robbery in the second-degree is punishable by a sentence of between two and five years in prison.

Expunging Criminal Records in Orange County

California Penal Code Section 1203.4 states that in a case where the convicted has completed their probation or has for any reason been granted relief by the court, can petition to have their case reopened and expunged. If someone is disqualified from having their record expunged they may, under Penal Code Section 17 (b), reduce their felony conviction to a misdemeanor. An individual considering to petition for a felony expungement or reduction should consider hiring an attorney to ensure their odds of success at clearing their Orange County criminal record.

Guns photo by Matt Scott