Judge Orders That Killer Be Executed

A 21-year-old Pacoima man was sentenced Tuesday to be executed for the 1990 slaying of a swap meet security guard, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said.

Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen, acting on the recommendation of a jury, sentenced Ricardo Roldan to death, Deputy Dist. Atty. Craig R. Richman said. The sentencing was delivered at the San Fernando Courthouse.

Roldan was convicted in September of murdering Roland (Lucky) Teal, 61, with an assault weapon when Teal tried to stop a robbery at the San Fernando Swap Meet on June 3, 1990.

“I think he deserved the death penalty,” Richman said. “I can’t say that I’m pleased that an individual died and another individual is going to be put to death, but I think it’s a just verdict.”

Roldan’s attorney was unavailable for comment.

Roldan’s two accomplices were sentenced earlier for their roles in the robbery.

Richard L. Zorns, 24, of Arleta, convicted of driving the getaway car, received a sentence of 32 years to life in prison. Sergio Ayala, 19, of Pacoima, who wrestled with Teal before Roldan shot him, was sentenced to 26 years to life.

Teal, father of 15 children and stepchildren, had moonlighted as a security guard at the swap meet on Glenoaks Boulevard for 21 years.

The day of the robbery, Teal jumped into his van and chased the robbers after they grabbed a bag containing $12,000 from the swap meet manager. Teal was struggling with Ayala when Roldan approached and shot the guard.

Richman said Roldan killed Teal while he was out on bail during jury deliberations for an Oct. 31, 1988, robbery of the Sun Valley Swap Meet. Coen sentenced Roldan to five years in prison on Tuesday for that robbery, Richman said.

Upon the request of prosecutors, Coen also dismissed an unrelated attempted murder charge that Roldan faced for allegedly stabbing another inmate while in custody awaiting trial at the Wayside Honor Rancho in September, 1991, Richman said.