VAN NUYS : Man Gets 30 Years in Store Robberies
A Los Angeles man was sentenced Friday in Van Nuys Superior Court to 30 years in prison for robbing liquor stores in the west San Fernando Valley.
Patrick Shelton, 25, was convicted March 17 on 24 counts involving robbery and assault with a firearm.
Sentencing for Shelton’s accomplice, Willie B. Neal, 21, of Lancaster, who was convicted of similar charges, was postponed until Monday because his attorney wanted additional time to consider filing a motion for a new trial.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Carole Chizever said she was disappointed that Shelton was not sentenced to the maximum 38 years and eight months. Neal faces a maximum sentence of 40 years and four months in prison. Shelton and Neal robbed six liquor stores and one convenience store at gunpoint in January, 1991, Chizever said. The crimes involved about 25 people, and during the course of the robberies Shelton beat several people with his gun, the prosecutor said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
![[20060326 (LA/A20) -- STATING THE CASE: Marchers organized by unions, religious organizations and immigrants rights groups carry signs and chant in downtown L.A. "People are really upset that all the work they do, everything that they give to this nation, is ignored," said Angelica Salas of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights. -- PHOTOGRAPHER: Photographs by Gina Ferazzi The Los Angeles Times] *** [Ferazzi, Gina -- - 109170.ME.0325.rights.12.GMF- Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times - Thousands of protesters march to city hall in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, March 25, 2006. They are protesting against House-passed HR 4437, an anti-immigration bill that opponents say will criminalize millions of immigrant families and anyone who comes into contact with them.]](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/722dda1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1983x1322+109+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fzbk%2Fdamlat_images%2FLA%2FLA_PHOTO_ARCHIVE%2FSDOCS%2854%29%2Fkx3lslnc.JPG)