Taking License With Pledge to Court

Thanks to a suspicious judge and two fleet-footed bailiffs, a defendant in a traffic case who promised at a hearing not to operate a car was nabbed minutes later as he drove from the courthouse parking garage.

Arrested on the spot, Geuork Khatesyan, 22, of North Hollywood was later sentenced to 47 days in jail for driving without a valid license.

It was his second conviction for the same offense.

The incident began Monday when Khatesyan appeared for arraignment in Van Nuys Municipal Court on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

When Khatesyan asked for a continuance to hire an attorney, Commissioner Robert P. Imerman agreed to postpone the case and allowed the defendant to leave without posting bail.

But Imerman conditioned the delay on Khatesyan’s pledge not to drive until his case was disposed of, said Deputy City Atty. Richard Schmidt, who prosecuted the case.

Imerman directed two bailiffs to follow the defendant as he left the courtroom.

When Khatesyan got into his car in the garage and began to drive away, the bailiffs took him into custody, Schmidt said.

Returned to court on Wednesday, Khatesyan entered a no-contest plea to the original charge.

In addition to the jail sentence, Commissioner Nori Walla placed Khatesyan on probation for 24 months on the condition that he would not drive without a valid license.

Khatesyan now has two convictions 20 months apart for driving without a license, and an additional similar charge pending, said Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn.