2 Men Sentenced in Thefts, Threats at Tire Store
Two men on probation for previous crimes were sentenced to jail Thursday for stealing merchandise from a North Hollywood tire store and threatening to kill the store’s manager with a knife if he called police.
Municipal Judge Karen Nudell sentenced Cruz Acosta, 42, of Arleta and Kevin Franklin, 30, of Sun Valley to jail for 240 days and 120 days, respectively. Both men pleaded no contest.
“Acosta was on probation from three prior theft convictions, two last year and one earlier this year,” said Los Angeles City Atty. spokesman Mike Qualls. “Franklin was on probation from two prior theft convictions, in 1997 and last year.”
Qualls said the store manager told police that Acosta and Franklin stole two tires from his business May 5, then returned on Sunday and took more merchandise.
When the men returned to the Vineland Avenue store for a third time on Monday, the manager said he would call police, Qualls said.
The defendants fled with no merchandise and when the manager followed them out, he flagged down a police car. Both men were then taken into custody, Qualls said.
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