National City
A man who admitted robbing and beating several elderly men near a water well in National City was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in state prison.
Kevin Eugene Cartwright, 21, the so-called “wishing-well bandit,” was given the maximum sentence by Municipal Judge Jesus Rodriguez, who noted Cartwright’s viciousness and cruelty when attacking his victims. Rodriguez said the victims were vulnerable and they suffered significant losses.
Cartwright was sentenced to five years for the robbery of 84-year-old Rudy Lucas, who had a bottle broken over his head and was beaten and kicked. The robbery netted Cartwright $40 and a 1966 Buick, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeff Dusek.
Cartwright will also serve one-year terms for five other robberies; he will not serve time in the two remaining robberies.
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