San Diego
A jury has found the son of television evangelist Morris Cerullo not guilty of burglary but deadlocked on a charge of grand theft in the attempted theft of an air conditioner.
The Superior Court jury deadlocked, 9 to 3 in favor of acquittal, on the grand theft charge in the trial of Mark Stephen Cerullo, 33, of San Diego.
Mark Cerullo was not in court for the reading of the verdict and could not be located.
Judge Tom Whelan told attorney Kerry Steigerwalt to have his client in court Dec. 19, at which time a new trial date might be set. Whelan issued a warrant for Cerullo’s arrest but said he would hold it until the next court date.
Cerullo was accused of trying to steal a $479 air conditioner from the Home Depot store on Sports Arena Boulevard on July 29.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Carl Horst said Cerullo put on an apron and pretended to be a store employee while moving the air conditioner out on a cart.
A manager became suspicious, and Cerullo was arrested at the store.
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