VAN NUYS : Man Gets 4 Years in Robbery-Stabbing

A Simi Valley man was sentenced Tuesday to four years in state prison for his role in a robbery that led to the brutal stabbing of a West Hills convenience store clerk who nearly died after receiving about two dozen wounds.

In a plea bargain negotiated earlier this month, Carlos Ramon Garcia, 20, pleaded guilty to a single robbery charge stemming from the invasion of a 7-Eleven store during the early morning hours of March 24.

As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped charges of attempted murder.

Van Nuys Municipal Judge Michael S. Luros sentenced Garcia, but delayed sentencing until Monday for another defendant, David Michael Delahanty, 19, of Chatsworth, who received the same deal as Garcia.

Amolak Singh Saini, a 27-year-old Indian immigrant who had worked at the Saticoy Street store less than one month, was brutally attacked after four drunken men entered and stole beer, cigarettes and two cash registers.

Still charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing Saini are Frank Eric Kaatz, 19, and Scott Howard Goodman, 22, both of Chatsworth. They could be sentenced to life prison terms if convicted.

A preliminary hearing to determine if Kaatz and Goodman should stand trial in Superior Court is scheduled to resume Thursday before Luros.

Prosecutors previously granted immunity to a fifth man involved in the case, Jason Garcia, 20, who agreed to testify against the others, including his brother, Carlos Garcia. Jason Garcia was the driver of the getaway car, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Steven J. Ipsen.