Robber Sentenced Under ‘3 Strikes’ Law

A Lake View Terrace man who snatched a purse from a woman in front of a grocery store in Pacoima was convicted of robbery this week and sentenced to life in prison under the state’s new “three strikes” law.

Prior convictions for a residential burglary in 1987 and a robbery in 1989 made Terry Evans, 32, liable for the harsher sentence, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Dver.

Dver said his office files all cases eligible under the “three strikes” law, which calls for a 25-years-to-life sentence for anyone convicted of a third serious felony charge.

“The sentence in this case takes into account not only his current conviction, but his prior conduct,” Dver said. “This is a defendant who has four felony convictions and has been to prison twice and then goes out and commits a fifth felony.”

Dver said Evans was also convicted of drug possession in 1985 and 1986.

The third strike against Evans was his conviction Wednesday for knocking down and stealing a purse from a woman who was buying water from a machine outside a grocery store in Pacoima.

Evans ran to a waiting car, but the driver crashed into a telephone pole a short distance away. The driver fled and was never caught. Evans broke his hip in the crash, and police arrested him minutes later still holding the woman’s purse.

Because of his prior convictions, Evans was given a life sentence plus 11 years. That means Evans must serve 36 years before being eligible for parole, Dver said.

Evans’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Rose Reglos, was not available Friday for comment.