2 Plead Guilty in Attack on 7-Eleven Clerk

Two Chatsworth men pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted murder in an attack on a West Hills convenience store clerk who was stabbed nearly two dozen times during a $25 robbery.

As part of a deal with prosecutors that spares them from potential life sentences, Frank Eric Kaatz and Scott Howard Goodman each will be sentenced to 14 years in state prison.

Amolak Singh Saini, a 26-year-old Indian immigrant who had worked at the Saticoy Street store less than one month, was attacked March 24 when four drunken men entered the 7-Eleven store and stole beer, cigarettes and two cash registers.

Saini said he was stabbed by Kaatz, who is seen on a security videotape jumping the sales counter, and then by Goodman in the parking lot as he tried to escape.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Steven J. Ipsen said Kaatz and Goodman were assigned to take out Saini, while two accomplices took merchandise and a fifth man acted as getaway driver.

The men who toted out the merchandise--Carlos Ramon Garcia, a 21-year-old Simi Valley man, and David Michael Dalhanty, a 19-year-old from Chatsworth--previously pleaded guilty to robbery and received four-year prison terms.

The fifth man, 20-year-old Jason Garcia--the younger brother of Carlos--turned state’s evidence and was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony.

Kaatz, 20, and Goodman, 23, made their guilty pleas on the final day of a lengthy and often-delayed preliminary hearing that began in September. During seven days in court, the pair heard Jason Garcia testify about their roles in the crime.

Jason Garcia testified that each member of the party received about $5 after they smashed open one of the cash registers, according to Ipsen.

Van Nuys Municipal Judge Michael S. Luros is scheduled to sentence Kaatz and Goodman on Jan. 27.