Judges Verdict
Following a flurry of assertions from the defense, Judge Hector M. Guzman turned away the bid. He set Monday, April 23, for Mr. Vera and Frank Goller to enter pleas in the burgling of the vending box of a water dispenser at a Ralphs supermarket, 500 Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo.
After nearly an hours worth of sometimes-vague testimony from 3 veteran El Segundo police officers, Mr. Veras public attorney, Michael J. Russo, challenged the acceptability of the order of events at the arrest scene.
Police stopped Mr. Vera along with his friend and alleged accomplice, Frank Goller, on the night of Tuesday, March 6, around 11 p.m.
Short Time Later
This was an hour after an eyewitness, one John Pesusich, claimed that as he was sitting in his car in the Ralphs parking lot, he saw Mr. Vera and Mr. Goller commit a crime.
Mr. Pesusich did not testify.
His impressions were relayed to the court by 2 El Segundo officers, Darryl Bruce Lewis, an 11-year veteran, and Det. Andrew Usmani, a 17-year veteran.
It was not clear whether Mr. Pesusich noted that one or both suspects were attired in bright orange construction vests the night of the burglary. Nor was it claimed that the witness, who telephoned police, saw their faces in any detail.
Sign of Recognition
Rather, the eyewitness, who was brought to the arrest scene near the market shortly afterward, supposedly recognized the Culver City defendants by their build and their clothing.
According to the cops, the eyewitness noticed a pickup truck identified as Mr. Veras enter the Ralphs lot, evidently with Mr. Goller in the passenger seat, a little before 10 p.m.
The Lookout?
A moment later, by Mr. Pesusichs relayed testimony, Mr. Goller allegedly took up a kind of lookout position near the truck.
The witness indicated Mr. Vera, burglary tools in hand, approached a Glacier water dispensing machine, dislodged the vending portion, returned to the truck, placing the vending box and burglary tools all in the bed of his silver-toned truck.
From a Distance
An officer estimated the eyewitness observed the crime from a distance of 70 to 75 feet.
Mr. Pesusich, according to the cops, said he followed the suspects a couple of blocks north on Sepulveda, until he thought they suspected him of tailing them. The witness said the suspects turned into a service station, near the corner where both were arrested an hour later.
Why He Is in Jail
In his latest of several recent brushes with the law, Mr. Vera appears to have been financially ignored by his well-to-do father, Albert Sr., a politician, rancher, landowner and operator of Serrano Italian Market.
For more than a month, the younger Vera has been an inmate in the County Jail, downtown Los Angeles, unable to post the $75,000 bail.
Vera Assessment
Tall, trim and goateed, the surviving son of one of Culver Citys most prominent citizens, Mr. Vera looked relatively fresh in his jailhouse navy blues.
Stolid-faced, he rarely changed expression.
He never glanced or turned to look for any familiar or comforting signs in the sparse audience.
Unlike his last hearing a little more than 3 weeks ago, no Vera family members were detected in Judge Guzmans 8th floor courtroom.
Longest Incarceration
Mr. Vera has been to jail before, and, in each instant, apparently was reliably aided by his family.
This time is starkly different. Tomorrow marks the end of his 5th week of detention.
By far, this is his longest stretch behind bars, and it does not appear likely that his incarceration will end anytime soon.
The Charges
He stands accused of 3 felonies, grand theft of personal property, vandalism of an object where the damage exceeded $400 and possession of a loaded firearm, a semi-automatic .45 calibre handgun that was not registered. The fourth count is a misdemeanor, possession of burglary tools.
Court sources indicated a settlement could be reached in the late spring, after he enters an expected not-guilty plea and before a trial date is reached. If found guilty, sources placed his likely sentence at about 6 months.
Second Suspect Behind Bars
Handcuffed, Mr. Vera was seated this morning beside the 39-year-old baldheaded and significantly shorter Mr. Goller, who was attired in a lime green jailhouse jumpsuit.
Mr. Goller, who may face probation violation charges after the present case is settled, also has been incarcerated since the night of the crime. His bail is $40,000.
The men are neighbors on Hannum Avenue.
