P. v. Williams
An amended information charged Michael Williams with one count of second degree robbery (Pen. Code, § 211).[1] The information alleged in the commission of the robbery Williams, “with the intent to do so, took, damaged and destroyed property of a value exceeding $65,000,†within the meaning of section 12022.6, subdivision (a)(1).
Evidence presented at trial showed that robbery victim Cesar Ramirez worked for a recycling company and sometimes paid out large sums of money in cash for recyclable materials. On multiple occasions, defendant Williams had brought car parts to Ramirez’s employer to be sold. On March 23, 2011, at about 7:30 a.m., Ramirez arrived for work carrying a backpack full of bundles of cash totaling approximately $120,000. Ramirez had withdrawn the money from the bank the evening before because he needed to pay a customer for a large volume of recyclable materials.
As Ramirez was unlocking the gate at the recycling company, two men approached. A man later identified as Juan Carlos Garcia demanded Ramirez’s backpack, told Ramirez he had a gun and would shoot, and moved his hand inside his jacket pocket indicating he had a gun. Garcia grabbed the backpack and Ramirez let him because Ramirez was afraid Garcia would hurt him. The two men ran off.
Ramirez flagged down a stranger who was driving by and asked for his help. The stranger allowed Ramirez to get into his vehicle and they drove off after Garcia and the other man. Ramirez saw Garcia and the other man run to and climb inside a white sport utility vehicle with paper license plates. Ramirez dialed 911 and provided the location and description of the white vehicle. Eventually, Ramirez lost sight of the white vehicle and went back to the recycling company to wait for the police to respond.
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