San Diego : Sailor in Holdups Draws 11-Year Term

A sailor who participated with other sailors in a series of holdups in the Midway area was sentenced Friday to 11 years in state prison.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Allan Preckel described Daryl Erwin, 21, as “a coward” who didn’t commit robberies individually but did so with three co-defendants whom the judge compared to “a pack of running dogs.”

Erwin’s sentence equals the term Preckel gave earlier to co-defendant Travis Walker, 21. Another co-defendant, Dwight Joseph, 21, was sentenced to seven years March 31, and the fourth co-defendant, Darren Shelton, 25, will be sentenced May 20.

All four sailors were crewman from the submarine tender Dixon. Two robbery victims were also sailors and other victims included a 74-year-old man who was knocked unconscious.

One robbery victim, Mark Milligan, told the judge Friday that he lost his job after he was beaten during a holdup. He testified that he needs jaw surgery but now has no health insurance.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Josephine Kiernan urged a 13-year term for Erwin, saying he had no remorse.

“He’s a coward,” Preckel said. “Singly, he didn’t commit these robberies, but . . . together they would act as a pack of running dogs.”

Preckel also fined Erwin $1,000.