A 64-year-old Calabasas man was arrested in Southern California for his alleged connection to a bank robbery in Rocklin on Feb. 4. He turned himself in to the California Highway Patrol office in Victorville on Feb. 18.
According to authorities, the defendant entered a Wells Fargo bank on Granite Drive just before 4 p.m. on the day of the robbery. He told the bank teller he was armed and made off with an undisclosed amount of money. He reportedly fled the scene in a gray 2007 Honda Accord, driving toward Rocklin Road.
The defendant turned himself in after authorities obtained a probable cause warrant for his arrest. The Honda allegedly used in the crime was recovered at the Victorville CHP office. Detectives from Bakersfield are also investigating the case because the defendant matches the description of a suspect who robbed a Wells Fargo bank on Feb. 17. The defendant was taken into custody for outstanding robbery warrants and booked at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto. He will later be extradited to Placer County.
In California, those charged with theft can face severe consequences, including lengthy incarceration and heavy fines. However, even individuals charged with very serious crimes have the right to defend themselves in court. A defendant may be able to help themselves by retaining a criminal defense attorney immediately upon arrest. An attorney’s presence during police questioning could help protect an individual from accidental self-incrimination. A lawyer could also carefully review the case for any inconsistencies that could be used to a client’s advantage. In some circumstances, it may be possible to negotiate with prosecutors to arrange a plea deal that drops the most serious charges in exchange for the defendant’s guilty plea to a lesser offense.
Source: Sacramento Bee, “Rocklin bank robbery suspect arrested in Southern California”, Cathy Locke, Feb. 24, 2015