SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : ‘AIDS Bandit’ Suspect to Be Tried in Series of Holdups
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A man accused of using a blood-filled syringe he claimed was tainted with AIDS to rob shopkeepers was ordered Monday to stand trial on nine robbery and assault charges.
San Fernando Municipal Judge Juelann K. Cathey ordered the trial for Wesley Pledger, 35, of Northridge after a daylong preliminary hearing on charges stemming from eight incidents in Canoga Park, Reseda and Northridge in March. The robber was dubbed the “AIDS Bandit” or the “Syringe Bandit” by police and media.
Pledger is to stand trial on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, five counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery. He has pleaded not guilty and his arraignment was scheduled May 11 in Superior Court.
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