Suspect to Stand Trial in Rash of Market Robberies
A Ventura County man was ordered Thursday to stand trial in connection with the 1986 robberies of 14 supermarkets across Los Angeles County.
At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing, Municipal Judge Leslie A. Dunn ruled that there was sufficient evidence to hold Ronald S. Peterson, 40, on 16 counts of armed robbery, two counts of robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery.
His arraignment has been scheduled for Feb. 11 in Van Nuys Superior Court.
He is accused in 14 separate incidents between Aug. 6 and Sept. 17, 1986. Five of them were in the San Fernando Valley, Deputy Dist. Atty. Michelle R. Rosenblatt said. More than one employee was robbed at some locations, Rosenblatt said.
The robberies--at Alpha Beta, Albertson’s, Safeway, Ralph’s and Vons supermarkets--were committed between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., and the amounts stolen varied from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, Rosenblatt said.
Peterson’s alleged accomplice in the robberies, Lupe Gonzalez Escobedo, 34, recently pleaded guilty to 15 counts of robbery in Los Angeles and was sentenced to nine years in state prison, Rosenblatt said.
Peterson and Escobedo were arrested in Santa Barbara on Sept. 25, 1986.
Peterson faces a maximum of about 40 years in prison if convicted, Rosenblatt said.
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