One of two men who participated in a robbery spree, including a heist in La Mesa in which a 16-year-old Arizona boy was shot, was sentenced today to 23 years and four months in prison.
Alvaro Regalado, 22, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, robbery and carjacking charges in connection with the June 2011 robbery spree.
Co-defendant Juan Jose Arriero, 23, also pleaded guilty to attempted murder and robbery counts but told Judge Jeffrey Fraser today that he wanted to withdraw his plea. The judge set a hearing for Aug. 22.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Authorities said the defendants were armed with a shotgun and a pistol when they held up seven people in five robberies. Among the victims was a 16- year-old Arizona boy, who was in town to visit family when he decided to go skateboarding alone in the 7300 block of El Cajon Boulevard around 2 a.m. on June 27, 2011.
The robbers took a small amount of cash from the boy and shot him the head, but the bullet only grazed the teen and he survived, authorities said.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
—City News Service
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
