2 Men Sentenced To Prison For Murder, Attempted Robbery Of OC Jewelry Store
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Officials Monday announced two men were sentenced to prison for the murder of their accomplices during an attempted robbery at a jewelry store.
On Friday, Alan Keith Hunter, 43, of Moreno Valley, and James Stephan Paschall, 44, of Gardena, were each ordered to spend 30 years to life in state prison, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Hunter and Paschall met Robert Avery, 39, Desmond Brown, 39, Eddie Clark Sr., 53, of Los Angeles, and Clark Jr. around 11:15 a.m. on June 24, 2011, to rob Monaco Jewelers located on Doheny Park Road in San Juan Capistrano.
Avery, who was armed with a firearm, was buzzed into the locked jewelry store. Deputies explained Clark Jr. and Brown followed Avery into the showroom.
Officials said Avery proceeded to walk out of the showroom and into the work area, where he pulled out the firearm and attacked the store manager.
During the attack, Avery pointed the gun at the manager's head and chest. However, the manager then shot Avery and Brown three times each.
Clark Jr. fled from the scene unharmed. Avery and Brown were pronounced dead at the scene.
Special Weapons and Tactics officers, along with K-9 officers, surrounded the area to search for Clark Jr., however, he was not located.
A preliminary investigation revealed Hunter and Paschall stole a car to be used as the get-away vehicle a day before the attempted robbery was committed.
Deputies explained Hunter, Clark Jr., and Paschall were each linked to the attempted robbery through a DNA match.
Hunter and Paschall were also linked to the crime through phone records, and were subsequently arrested on Sept. 7, 2011.
According to the district attorney's office, Hunter and Paschall were found guilty by jury on April 9 of one felony count each of first-degree murder, and one felony count each of attempted second-degree robbery. Jurors also found both men to have prior serious and violent felony convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery and armed bank robberies in 1993 and 1995.
Co-defendant George Anthony Boozer, 36, of Apple Valley, pleaded guilty on May 22, 2013, to one felony count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and five felony counts of attempted second-degree robbery. He will be sentenced to 12 years, four months in state prison on July 17.
Clark Sr. pleaded guilty on Dec. 12, 2014, to four felony counts of second-degree robbery, and one felony count of voluntary manslaughter. He will be sentenced to 10 years in state prison on June 12.
