2 Would-Be Jewel Robbers Convicted Of Murder After Store Owner Fatally Shoots Their Accomplices
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities said two would-be jewel robbers were convicted of murder Thursday in the botched heist at a store where the owner fatally shot two of their accomplices in 2011.
The two men were held accountable for the deaths.
Alan Keith Hunter, 43, og Moreno Valley was found guilty of one felony count of first-degree murder and one felony count of attempted second-degree robbery. Hunter faces a maximum sentence of 60 years to life in state prison at his sentencing May 15.
Co-defendant James Stephan Paschall, 44, of Gardena was found guilty of one felony count of first-degree murder and one felony count of attempted second-degree robbery.
Paschall faces a maximum sentence of 105 years to life in state prison at his sentencing May 15.
Co-defendant Eddie Clark Sr., 53, of Los Angeles pleaded guilty in December to four felony counts of second-degree robbery and one felony count of voluntary manslaughter. Clark faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison at his sentencing Friday.
Co- defendant George Anthony Boozer, 36, of Apple Valley pleaded guilty in May 2013, to one felony count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and five felony counts of attempted second-degree robbery. He faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and four months in state prison at his sentencing next month.
Officials said one of the co-defendants, along with two other men, namely Robert Avery, 39 and Desmond Brown, 39, entered Monaco Jewelers on Doheny Park Road in San Juan Capistrano around 11:15 a.m. June 24, 2011.
The men entered the store with the plan to rob the premises. Avery was armed and pulled out a gun and attacked the store manager, named in court documents as John Doe.
During the attack, Avery pointed the weapon at Doe's head and chest. The store's owner was able to shoot Avery and Brown three times each. Avery and Brown were declared dead at the scene. Clark fled.
A day before the botched robbery, Hunter and Paschall stole a car to be used in the heist. Paschall was a getaway driver to help his co-conspirators flee. Hunter also drove a rented car to be used in the robbery and getaway.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department investigated the case.
During the investigation, Hunter, Clark and Paschall were linked to the crime through DNA hits. Hunter and Paschall were also linked to the crime through phone records. Hunter and Paschall were arrested by the Sheriff's Department about three months after the robbery attempt.
