San Diego

A son of U.S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam pleaded guilty Wednesday to robbing two taxi drivers.

Earl Kenneth Gilliam, 33, entered his guilty pleas before San Diego Municipal Court Judge H. Ronald Domnitz, who scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18.

Gilliam could receive a maximum sentence of seven years and four months in state prison plus a $20,000 fine.

Gilliam and co-defendant Anthony Booth, 37, of Chula Vista, were to face a preliminary hearing Wednesday, but only Booth had the hearing.

Domnitz ordered Booth to stand trial for one robbery and dismissed a second robbery count because of insufficient evidence. Booth was ordered to Superior Court on Nov. 6 to schedule a trial date.

According to court records, the hold-up of John Plough occurred on August 10. The second robbery, that of Raymond Garcia, took place in September. The pair were arrested on Sept. 18.

Before his arrest, Gilliam worked as a stock clerk for the city of San Diego and lived with his mother in La Jolla. Records state he underwent a drug rehabilitation program in 1989.

Neither defendant has posted bail and both remain in custody in County Jail downtown.