Killer’s Bad Day in Court Leads to Brawl With Deputies

Convicted killer Robert J. Clark made a temporary shambles of Superior Court Judge Robert R. Fitzgerald’s courtroom Friday. But then, Fitzgerald said later, “it wasn’t one of Mr. Clark’s better days.”

It took three deputy marshals to restrain Clark, 25, after he angrily threw back his chair and bolted toward a hallway holding cell. No one was hurt, but furniture toppled and lawyers and court officials scattered to safety.

“It was just too much bad news all at once,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeoffrey L. Robinson speculated later.

Clark’s first bad news was that Fitzgerald refused to marry Clark and his girl friend, who was in court but whose name is unknown to attorneys and court officials. Some judges marry defendants on their way to state prison to serve their sentences. Fitzgerald does not.

“Crooks can get married in the San Quentin chapel if they want to,” Fitzgerald said later.

Then, Clark learned that the girlfriend had changed her mind about marrying him anyway.

After that, Fitzgerald denied a motion for a new trial by Clark’s attorney, George A. Quevedo. The judge followed that by sentencing Clark to life in prison without parole--upholding the jury’s verdict of first-degree murder for the strangulation of David L. Martinez of Santa Ana during a robbery four years ago.

“I could see he (Clark) was taking it all pretty hard,” said Deputy Marshal H.J. Dunlap, the bailiff.

But Dunlap, and the rest of the courtroom, were surprised at the extent of Clark’s distress. He jumped from his seat, threw his chair to the ground, and “bolted” from the courtroom, Dunlap said later.

Defendants are not supposed to rise from their chairs and return to the adjoining holding cell until the deputies tell them it is time to go.

Dunlap was unlocking the door leading to the holding area. Clark was heading right for him. That was all too much for Deputy Marshal Donald Schmier, who was assisting Dunlap. He grabbed Clark from behind to restrain him. Dunlap, who is 6 feet, 7 inches and weighs 265 pounds, joined in. Then a third deputy, Jeff Wolven, offered assistance.

While the four were sprawled on the floor, the girlfriend was heard screaming, “Robert, I love you! I love you! Don’t make it worse!”

Those words, however, did not change any minds about the wedding.

After a minute or two, the three deputies handcuffed Clark and led him away.

Fitzgerald said he never felt the need to hit the emergency button on his desk.

“The deputies had it all under control,” the judge said. “But he was a pretty powerful fellow. It just took a little longer than I expected.”

Altercations with deputies is nothing new for Clark.

Two years ago, he and convicted killer Ivan Von Staich overpowered a deputy sheriff on the recreation roof of Orange County Jail and climbed four stories down the side of the jail in a daring escape.

Clark was caught less than a week later, Staich a month after that.