SATICOY : Man Denies Guilt in Market Robbery

An 18-year-old Los Angeles man pleaded not guilty to armed robbery Tuesday, denying that he stole $600 in cash and about $20,000 worth of gold jewelry during a holdup of a Saticoy market, authorities said.

Municipal Judge Herbert Curtis III set bail for Felipe Canizal at $100,000 after a prosecutor described Canizal as a flight risk because of his alleged membership in an East Los Angeles gang and because his brother lives in Mexico.

Canizal is one of four people, all alleged to be gang members from East Los Angeles, suspected in the Aug. 2 robbery at the Cabrillo Cooperative Store at 1515 S. Saticoy Ave.

According to sheriff’s deputies, the suspects burst into the store, shouted their gang name and held a gun and knife to the chest of the lone store clerk.

After taking the cash and jewelry, they escaped in a van. Witnesses outside the store gave deputies the van’s license plate, which was registered to a man living in the city of Commerce in Los Angeles County.

On Friday, sheriff’s deputies from Los Angeles and Ventura counties searched three homes in Los Angeles County and recovered about half the jewelry stolen. They also arrested a 17-year-old male and Canizal, who was wearing some of the stolen jewelry at the time, authorities said.

The 17-year-old is scheduled to appear for a hearing in Juvenile Court today, and prosecutors said they plan to ask that he be tried as an adult. Canizal’s preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 23.

Sheriff’s detectives are still searching for the other two suspects.