Gates’ Son Pleads Not Guilty in Thefts

Lowell Scott Gates, the 29-year-old son of Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, entered pleas of not guilty Wednesday to charges he robbed a Huntington Beach pharmacy and stole $3,100 worth of jewelry from a Westminster woman last month.

A grand larceny charge was added to the robbery complaint against the younger Gates at his arraignment before West Orange County Municipal Judge Alan McKone. Bail was set at $50,000 and the judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for June 14.

Gates, who according to his father has had a drug problem for 15 years, is accused of using a threatening note on Monday to steal $5,000 worth of drugs from The Druggist pharmacy at 16881 Algonquin St.

Investigators said Gates flashed a note reading, “Don’t move. I have a gun,” at pharmacist Mike Fraley before fleeing the store with the drugs. He was arrested later at a home on Malta Street in nearby Huntington Harbour, which he shares with his mother and stepfather, police said. No gun was found when police searched the home.

Charged on 2 Counts

Young Gates was charged with two counts of armed robbery because there were two employees in the store at the time of the alleged crime, police said.

The grand larceny charge stems from a March 25 incident at the home of a 52-year-old woman, Westminster police Officer Larry Woessner said.

Gates spent the night at the home after he and the woman’s 33-year-old daughter had attended a party, Woessner said.

The victim, whom Woessner declined to identify, discovered the jewelry missing the next morning. Gates was questioned and admitted taking the jewelry, Woessner said.