Mother of Slain Gunman Faces Trial in Abuse Case
A Pasadena Municipal Court judge ruled Thursday that there is sufficient evidence for the mother of a gunman killed in a North Hollywood bank robbery to answer charges of felony dependent abuse and false imprisonment, officials said.
Valerie Nicolescu-Matasareanu is accused of locking a mentally disabled woman, Georgia Mayo, 44, in a darkened room under extremely unsanitary conditions. Mayo was discovered in a Pasadena building owned by Nicolescu-Matasareanu during a police search for clues about Emil Matasareanu, one of two gunmen killed during the widely publicized robbery.
She has pleaded not guilty. Her attorney, Mark Geragos, said he expects to try to have the case dismissed in Pasadena Superior Court.
If that attempt is unsuccessful the matter is likely to go to trial.
Nicolescu-Matasareanu, 54, who formerly ran an Altadena home for the disabled, also faces a misdemeanor charge of operating an unlicensed board-and-care home.
She remains free on $50,000 bail. Municipal Judge Frederick R. Rotenberg refused a defense request to reduce the bail amount.
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