No Robbery Retrial for Freed Teen

Orange County prosecutors will not retry a man who spent 1 1/2 years in jail for a Santa Ana robbery conviction that was recently cast into doubt by new evidence.

Prosecutors told a judge Friday that there would be no new trial in the case against Richard Eddie Perez, 19, because they lacked sufficient evidence to convict him. Deputy Dist. Atty. Anne Tremblay would not comment further.

Superior Court Judge Richard F. Toohey set aside Perez’s conviction last month after defense lawyers discovered evidence linking the robbery to a man who is awaiting trial in a string of rapes and robberies last year.

“I’m just thankful to God and my attorney,” Perez said after the hearing. “It feels really good to be walking out of court through these doors.”

Although prosecutors agreed to drop two charges related to the robbery, they will pursue a third charge, for possession of heroin. Defense lawyer Edward Munoz argued Friday that because Perez was a minor at the time he was charged with possession, he should be tried in Juvenile Court.