2 to be tried in theft of 4 terriers

Two men were ordered to stand trial Tuesday on felony charges of stealing four purebred Yorkshire terriers at gunpoint during a February home invasion robbery in Koreatown.

A judge found there was sufficient evidence to bring Troy Cabral and Ryan Jason Betton to trial on residential robbery, grand theft and burglary charges.

Cabral, 23, and Betton, 19, surrendered to police days after a videotape of the Feb. 23 robbery aired on local television and newspaper websites.

Authorities alleged the men posed as prospective buyers when they arrived at a Koreatown home to see the puppies, which were advertised for sale for $2,500 each.

A security camera recorded one man holding a gun and another snatching the purebred pups as four family members cowered on the living room floor.

Cabral was later identified by police as the gunman.

Cabral’s attorney sought to dismiss the case, arguing there was not enough evidence to determine a real gun was used.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William N. Sterling dismissed the motion, saying that under the circumstances “a reasonable person would entertain a strong suspicion that it was a real gun.”

Both men, who remain free on $100,000 bail, were scheduled to be arraigned May 15.

Police recovered the puppies and one adult dog and reunited them with their owners.