| For Immediate Release Case # 07NF2120 June 07, 2007 |
Contact: Farrah Emami Spokersperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486 |
FIRE ACADEMY GRADUATE CHARGED WITH ROBBERY FOR HOLDING UP MOTHER WITH HER CHILDREN
IN THEIR FULLERTON HOME
*defendant also charged with breaking into two more homes
FULLERTON – A recent graduate of the Rio Honda Fire Academy was charged today with robbing a mother who was with her children as they pulled in to the garage of their Fullerton home. Giovanni Gregorio Macias, 19, La Puente, is charged with one felony count of first degree robbery and two felony counts of first degree residential burglary. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of eight years eight months in prison. Macias is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. in Department N-12, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
On June 5, 2007, a mother was driving into her attached garage at her home in Fullerton with her children in the car. As she stepped out of the car, Macias is accused of coming up behind her, pointing a handgun (which turned out to be fake) at her head, and demanding her purse. When the mother handed him her purse, he is accused of running away. A neighbor called the police with a description of the defendant’s car, and officers located Macias and followed him.
Macias is accused of getting out of his car and running away on foot. He is accused of breaking into a home and attempting to disguise himself by changing into the clothes of the absent residents. When police arrived before the defendant could flee, Macias is accused of hiding himself in the attic of the house and causing a four hour stand-off with officers. When the SWAT team announced that they were entering the home, Macias is accused of surrendering and was taken into custody.
In addition to the stolen purse, Macias is accused of being in possession of property stolen from a separate victim during another residential burglary committed earlier that morning.
###