City Attorney to Take Turn as Witness After Foiling Burglary Attempt

Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo is used to confronting criminals in court, but not in his own home.

Delgadillo did just that two weeks ago. A man released from Folsom Prison broke into his Mid-City home two weeks ago, intending to burglarize the place, authorities said.

Delgadillo, who was taking the day off, was there to greet him. He’ll get another look at 39-year-old Robert McChesney in court soon, when the city’s top lawyer might serve in the unusual role of witness.

“Of all the homes to choose. This guy wasn’t the brightest spark,” said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting McChesney. “When he ran off, he left behind a backpack with a prescription identifying him from Folsom Prison.”

Nine days after release from prison, McChesney crept onto Delgadillo’s property, stole his wife’s cell phone from a car, swiped a pair of the ex-Harvard quarterback’s sneakers and then entered the home through a backdoor, prosecutors alleged.

Delgadillo confronted McChesney, who allegedly claimed he was part of a work crew assigned to the address. Delgadillo wasn’t buying it.

“Rocky immediately dialed 911, and the Police Department responded within three minutes,” said Eric Moses, the city attorney’s spokesman.

Delgadillo picked McChesney from a series of photographs as the man in his home. McChesney is being held without bail.