During a two week period beginning on July 13, 2005, Robert Mendoza, a hardcore gang member from Visalia, committed a spree of six separate armed robberies with a handgun in the city of Visalia. Mendoza robbed four businesses: 7-Eleven, Valero, Rozi’s Market, and Cigarettes for Less. Mendoza also robbed twice Raul R., who is from Mexico and sold ice cream out of a cart on the streets of Visalia.

When Mendoza entered these businesses, he wore a red bandanna covering his face and a hat with “Visalia” written on the front. Each time Mendoza pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded the money from the cash register. The clerks complied each time and Mendoza was able to make a clean get away with the money.

Mendoza did not wear a disguise the first time he robbed Raul R. on July 13, 2005, but Mendoza did wear a red bandanna covering his face during the second time he robbed Raul R. For both of these robberies, Mendoza stopped Raul R. while Raul R. was pushing an ice cream cart on the streets of Visalia. Mendoza pointed a handgun at Raul R. each time and demanded money. Both times Raul R. complied and Mendoza was able to make a clean get away with the money.

Raul R. reported these robberies after Mendoza robbed him the second time, which was on July 27, 2005, the last day of Mendoza’s crime spree. Raul R. was reluctant to report the robberies out of fear of retaliation. On August 6, 2005, Raul R. identified Mendoza from photographs of potential suspects. On that same day, the handgun was recovered when Mendoza’s brother and another man used it in a separate crime.

Learning the identity of the suspect, officers of Visalia Police Department obtained a search warrant for Mendoza’s residence in Visalia and searched it, where Mendoza lived with his mother, father, and brother. The hats, bandanna, and some of the clothing Mendoza wore during the robberies were found throughout the residence.

On June 26, 2006, the jury trial started and lasted five days. The defense tried to blame the crimes on the defendant’s brother. The jury found Robert Mendoza guilty on all six counts and found all of the special allegations true, which were the gun and gang enhancements. The court found true the prior prison enhancement, as Robert Mendoza was recently released from state prison before committing these robberies.

On August 17, 2006, Judge Patrick O’Hara sentenced Robert Mendoza, who is now twenty two years old, to state prison for a term of forty five years and eight months.

Detective Randy Lentzner was the investigating officer, Officer Luma Fahoum was the gang expert, and Deputy District Attorney Todd Zocchi was the prosecutor.

Contact person: Assistant District Attorney, Carol Turner 733-6411