LOCAL : 10-Year Term in Officer Attack

A Hollywood man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison in connection with the June 9 attempted robbery and shooting of off-duty Los Angeles Police Officer Stacy Lim, who fatally shot the man’s friend.

Even though Arvin Peter Mani, 20, did not shoot Lim, San Fernando Superior Court Judge John H. Major said he imposed the maximum sentence because Mani planned the robbery.

Mani pleaded guilty June 21 to one count of attempted second-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. In return for the plea, prosecutors dropped charges of attempted robbery, assault with a firearm and attempted grand theft.

Mani and four juveniles followed Lim’s Ford Bronco for 30 miles, from Highland Park to her Santa Clarita home, because they wanted to steal the vehicle and her purse, detectives said. Mani had dropped off two of his friends at Lim’s house and began to drive away. As the officer stepped out of her car holding her gun, Joel Garcia Valenzuela, 16, of Highland Park, fired at her. She returned fire, killing Valenzuela, police said.

A .357-caliber slug pierced Lim’s sternum and grazed her heart before exiting through her back, nearly killing her. She is recovering at home and eventually may return to duty, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan M. Speer.

Two of the surviving youths, both girls, are awaiting trial in juvenile court, Speer said.