‘Follow Home’ Robber Pleads Guilty : Crime: The man will be sentenced July 14 for his role in the Woodland Hills incident. Two co-defendants will have hearings Thursday.

One of three men who police allege belonged to a ring of “follow home” robbers who have victimized women in the San Fernando Valley pleaded guilty Monday to robbing a Woodland Hills woman in her driveway last month.

Derrick Mosley, 20, of Pacoima entered his guilty plea in Van Nuys Municipal Court just before a preliminary hearing on the charge.

The hearing for Mosley’s two alleged accomplices, Bernard Roberts, 24, of Granada Hills and Richard Talley, 22, of Pasadena was postponed until Thursday to allow prosecutors time to file additional charges against them.

All three men had pleaded not guilty to the Woodland Hills robbery charge when they were arraigned on May 28.

Unlike most guilty pleas, Mosley’s action was not a result of an offer for a reduced sentence, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Gloria M. Mas.

However, Judge Robert L. Swasey indicated he would sentence Mosley to at most four years in prison.

If Mosley had gone to trial and been convicted on the single count of robbery, he would have faced a maximum sentence of seven years. Mosley, who is free on recognizance, will be sentenced July 14.

Mosley’s attorney, Michael Morse, said his client changed his plea because he feared a jury would convict him, especially given his association with Roberts and Talley, who face several criminal charges.

“It could have looked worse for him,” Morse said.

Mosley and the two other men were arrested May 26 by the Special Investigations Section of the Los Angeles Police Department. Officers of the special unit were watching Roberts when Catherine Rothenberg was robbed by three men outside her garage. Police say the men followed her home from a supermarket.

Prosecutors have not decided whether to file charges against a fourth suspect, a 17-year-old boy who was arrested at the time, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Damon. Damon said the juvenile, who was released to his parents, is scheduled to appear in Sylmar Juvenile Court on June 24, when a decision is expected.

Roberts’ court-appointed attorney, Donald G. Goldsobel, said he does not expect Mosley’s plea to significantly affect his client’s case, which is expected to total 11 counts of robbery.

Roberts had been arrested on Feb. 25 in connection with robberies in Encino, Tarzana and Calabasas. At the time, he was on probation for burglary and receiving stolen property, police said.

Police said they believe Roberts is the leader of a criminal ring that may have been involved in 24 “follow-home” robberies from Burbank to Calabasas. Unlike most robbers who steal to support drug habits, police said, these robbers carefully planned their crimes. The money stolen was used to pay for lawyers, sports cars and trips to Las Vegas, police said.

Goldsobel said he expects some of the counts against his client to eventually be dropped for lack of evidence, and he disputed the notion that Roberts is living a luxurious lifestyle.

“He is a poor man,” Goldsobel said.