NORWALK -- More details emerged Thursday about a 20-year-old man who pleaded no contest this week to a robbery outside a Norwalk liquor store in which he used a toddler as a human shield.
Jeremy Louis Gallegos entered the plea to two counts - second-degree robbery and child abuse - Tuesday at the Norwalk Superior Court and was promptly sentenced to eight years in state prison, said Jane Robison, a Los Angeles County District Attorney's spokeswoman.
The charge stemmed from an Oct. 28, 2009, holdup which was captured on surveillance video at the liquor store.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigators based out of Norwalk were able to get an identification of Gallegos from the video footage, which was released to the public.
Gallegos was eventually found in La Mirada and arrested Nov. 19, according to deputies.
Authorities said Gallegos was baby-sitting the 3-year-old, the son of his then girlfriend, when he decided to carry out the armed robbery. The child was not hurt, sheriff's officials said at the time of the crime.
Though initial reports listed the robbery at the liquor store, a prosecutor clarified Thursday that the crime took place outside the business after a customer walked out of the store and Gallegos confronted him, demanding cash.
Gallegos was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and felony child abuse based on the victim telling investigators the suspect lifted his shirt and gestured at what looked to be the butt of a gun in his waistband with one hand while holding the child in the other hand, Robison said.
The suspect was able to get $35 cash and two beers from the victim, she said.
Because the prosecution could not prove without a doubt that a weapon was used the gun allegation was dropped from the charge, Robison explained.
The case came abruptly to a close Tuesday with Gallegos opting to plead no contest to the second degree robbery and felony child abuse counts rather than go to trial. He was immediately remanded to state custody and given credit for the time served since his November arrest, court staff said.
Jeremy Louis Gallegos entered the plea to two counts - second-degree robbery and child abuse - Tuesday at the Norwalk Superior Court and was promptly sentenced to eight years in state prison, said Jane Robison, a Los Angeles County District Attorney's spokeswoman.
The charge stemmed from an Oct. 28, 2009, holdup which was captured on surveillance video at the liquor store.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigators based out of Norwalk were able to get an identification of Gallegos from the video footage, which was released to the public.
Gallegos was eventually found in La Mirada and arrested Nov. 19, according to deputies.
Authorities said Gallegos was baby-sitting the 3-year-old, the son of his then girlfriend, when he decided to carry out the armed robbery. The child was not hurt, sheriff's officials said at the time of the crime.
Though initial reports listed the robbery at the liquor store, a prosecutor clarified Thursday that the crime took place outside the business after a customer walked out of the store and Gallegos confronted him, demanding cash.
Gallegos was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and felony child abuse based on the victim telling investigators the suspect lifted his shirt and gestured at what looked to be the butt of a gun in his waistband with one hand while holding the child in the other hand, Robison said.
The suspect was able to get $35 cash and two beers from the victim, she said.
Because the prosecution could not prove without a doubt that a weapon was used the gun allegation was dropped from the charge, Robison explained.
The case came abruptly to a close Tuesday with Gallegos opting to plead no contest to the second degree robbery and felony child abuse counts rather than go to trial. He was immediately remanded to state custody and given credit for the time served since his November arrest, court staff said.
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