San Diego : Robber Enters Plea in Kidnap of Officer
A transient pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of kidnaping a La Mesa police officer during a bank robbery.
Damazo Acosta Jr., who had already been charged with robbing the Wells Fargo Bank on Lake Murray Drive on March 21, was indicted Monday on charges of kidnaping to avoid apprehension and using a gun during a bank robbery.
Officer Kerry Johniken was briefly taken hostage after she reportedly surprised Acosta and an unknown accomplice immediately after a robbery that caused an $84,934 loss to the bank. Acosta and the second suspect grabbed Johniken’s gun and used her as a shield when other officers arrived, Assistant U.S. Atty. Linda Frakes said. Johniken received minor injuries in the incident.
At the time of the robbery, Acosta was free on bail and awaiting sentencing for pleading guilty to an October bank robbery in Bonita.
He is scheduled to be sentenced July 20 for that crime.
U.S. District Judge Gordon Thompson Jr. set trial Sept. 15 for the La Mesa robbery and kidnaping.
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