San Diego
An addiction to cocaine caused the son of a local prosecutor to rob banks, the son told a judge Monday.
John Mark Hewicker III, 21, of La Mesa, pleaded guilty to holding up two banks in December. Hewicker told U.S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving he needed money from the banks to pay for his cocaine addiction.
Hewicker is the son of Deputy Dist. Atty. John Hewicker II, an extradition specialist, and the grandson of the late John Hewicker, a Superior Court judge in San Diego for 21 years.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Patrick O’Toole said Hewicker III has agreed to pay restitution to the two banks and to six others believed to have been robbed by him.
Sentencing is set for June 10, and he could receive 20 years in federal prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
Court records show Hewicker pleaded guilty to the Dec. 11, robbery of $491 from Security Pacific Bank, 6080 Lake Murray Blvd. in La Mesa. Hewicker also robbed the Great American Savings Bank, 8505 Navajo Road, San Carlos, of $239 on Dec. 21.
He remains free on a $15,000 bond.
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