SAN FERNANDO : ‘Remorseful’ Bandit Gets 61-Year Term

A man police once dubbed “the remorseful robber” for returning cash and valuables to some of his victims was sentenced Friday to more than 61 years in prison for committing a string of robberies in the San Fernando Valley.

Ronald W. Sykes, 31, of Eagle Rock showed no emotion after San Fernando Superior Court Judge William A. MacLaughlin pronounced sentence. Sykes’ mother and sister were in the courtroom for the sentencing and wept quietly.

Sykes had pleaded guilty in October to 38 counts of robbery and one of kidnaping. He faced a maximum sentence of more than 90 years in prison.

Sykes’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Charles Klum, said the sentence was longer than he had hoped for. “Considering his age and that no one was injured during any of the robberies, we had hoped he would only have to actually serve about 20 years,” Klum said. Sykes will be eligible for parole after serving about 30 years of his sentence.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Carole Anne Chizever said Sykes deserved the longer sentence because even though he didn’t injure any of his victims, he threatened them with a shotgun and kidnaped one.

Police gave him his nickname after some of the victims told them that Sykes returned money, an automatic teller card and a ring after they pleaded with him.