San Diego
The son of a deputy district attorney pleaded guilty Tuesday to two charges of armed bank robbery and violating probation on another bank-robbery conviction.
John Mark Hewicker III, 25, of La Jolla, faces up to 70 years in prison after admitting that he robbed two banks in December. However, Assistant U. S. Atty. James W. Brannigan Jr. said he will ask the court to impose a six-year sentence for the robberies and a five-year sentence for the probation violation.
Hewicker admitted robbing the Home Federal Savings & Loan on Pearl Street in La Jolla on Dec. 2. Hewicker said the crime netted him more than $800.
He also admitted taking about $250 in the robbery of a Flagship Federal Savings bank on Governor Drive on Dec. 16.
Hewicker said he displayed an air pistol, which he carried in his waistband, during both robberies. Defense attorney Ramon Castro said that, in the plea-bargain agreement, Hewicker admitted six robberies and one attempted robbery. Since he committed the crimes while on probation, Hewicker is not eligible for parole and he will spend at least 85% of the sentence behind bars.
U. S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving will sentence Hewicker on May 1. He is being held without bail.
In 1985, Hewicker pleaded guilty to two charges of bank robbery without the use of a weapon.
He was sentenced to four years on one count and received a suspended sentence on the second count, Brannigan said.
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