The Region : 5 Ramirez Counts Null

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office will drop five robbery counts against accused Night Stalker Richard Ramirez, who still faces trial on charges of 14 murders, 5 attempted murders, 15 burglaries, 4 rapes, 3 acts of oral copulation and 4 acts of sodomy. Deputy Dist. Atty. P. Philip Halpin said the robbery charges are being dismissed because state law prohibits double sentencing of defendants convicted of both robbery and burglary in the same incident. In all five cases where the robbery counts will be dismissed, Halpin said, Ramirez is still charged with burglary. Ramirez, 26, who could face the death penalty if convicted, is scheduled to be arraigned today in Los Angeles Superior Court.