Glendale News Press

WEEKEND, APRIL 12-13, 1997

Six charged in shootout are released 
Days after judge dismisses murder, robbery and conspiracy case, men arrested after Glendale gunfight are freed from jail.

By _____ _____, News-Press

 Six men who earlier this week faced murder, robbery and conspiracy charges were released from jail Friday after the L.A. County District Attorneys Office failed to re-file the charges that were dismissed in court Tuesday.

 The men were held through Friday in case the D.A.s office chose to re-file.

 Prosecutor _____ _____ could not be reached for comment.

 Glendale Police Sgt. _____ _____ said he had no comment.

 Theres no statute of limitations on murder, said _____ _____, spokeswoman for the D.A.s office.  Pending further review of this complicated matter, we will decide at a later date whether to proceed.

 Were working closely with the Glendale Police Department on this.

 The defendants are free for the first time since they were arrested in December in the shooting deaths of _____ _____, 19, of Glendale, and _____ ______, 27, of North Hollywood. 

 Police said the defendants went with _____ to Mirage Clothing & Shoes at 620 S. Glendale Ave. the night of Dec. 17 to extort money from the owner, _____ _____.

 The defense countered the men were friends with the store owner and went there only to talk business.

 In fact, defense attorney Ronald Hedding said, the owner was the best man at one of the defendants weddings.  The defense also said the store owner and _____, who the defense alleges was drunk at the time of the shootings, were the only people holding guns.

 Hedding, who represents defendant _____ _____, said the prosecution just couldn't prove their conspiracy theory.

 I'm excited for these guys, Hedding added. My guy doesn't have a criminal record; hes young.  He has a wife and a little daughter.

 The store owners testimony gave the case its most confusing twists.

 In December, he told police the men tried to extort money from him. But on the stand in January, he recanted and said they were his friends and had only come to talk. Because he was an ex-convict and not allowed to own a gun, Glendale Municipal Court Judge _____ _____made him retain a lawyer.  After that, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right when questioned.

 Charged in the shootings and held without bail were:  _____ _____, 32 of Hollywood, _____ _____, 36 of North Hollywood, _____ _____, 42, of Glendale, _____ _____, 23, of North Hollywood, _____ _____, 23, of Van Nuys, and _____ _____, 22, of Van Nuys.

Contact Our San Fernando Valley Criminal Defense Attorneys today!