House Painter Sentenced for Van Theft

A San Fernando house painter was given a six-month suspended sentence Thursday after pleading no contest to charges he stole a Volkswagen bus in which a 23-year-old man sat dying of a gunshot wound.

Vaughn Grant, 39, pleaded no contest to grand theft charges last month in San Fernando Superior Court. He was arrested about 4 a.m. April 21 after Los Angeles police stopped a van he was driving in Pacoima and found Walter Bickly Hackman of Palm Desert suffering from a gunshot wound in the torso. Hackman was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Prosecutors contend Hackman was shot in a drug deal turned sour and drove the van about 100 yards before collapsing. They said Grant, whom they do not believe was involved in the shooting, chanced upon the van with the wounded victim inside, stole $50 from him and drove the vehicle away.

Police stopped the van because it fit a description given them by witnesses to the shooting. When police ordered Grant out of the van, he dropped a bloodied $50 bill, which Deputy Dist. Atty. Ken Barshop said was entered as evidence in the case.

Police said they believe Hackman was shot by Eric Cunningham, who authorities said is a Pacoima narcotics dealer, after the two argued about a drug transaction. Los Angeles police Detective Steve Fisk said an arrest warrant has been issued for Cunningham.

They did not find evidence linking Grant to the shooting and witnesses said he was not involved, Barshop said.

In an interview after the sentencing, Grant said he was trying to drive Hackman to the hospital when stopped by police. He denied possessing a bloodied $50 bill and said he agreed to plead no contest to the charges only because authorities told him they would release him from custody.

Fisk, however, questioned Grant’s version.

“He said he was taking the poor gentleman to the hospital, but when the police officers passed him, he didn’t make any attempt to flag them down,” Fisk said. “One has to wonder whether his intentions were to take this man to the hospital for medical treatment or to get a free ride and fifty dollars.”

Grant said he did not flag down police because he was in a hurry to get to the hospital. He said his experience will deter other future good Samaritans who may now be reluctant to intervene in emergency situations.