People v. Von Villas
Opinion
Opinion
Flynn, J.
I
Procedural Background
Robert Anthony Von Villas and Richard Herman Ford were charged in a 16-count information filed on October 14, 1986. For convenience, the information shall be considered as charging three separate sets of counts: The Loguercio conspiracy to commit murder counts; the Schaffer & Sons jewelry store robbery counts; and the Weed murder counts. The third set of counts involving the murder of Thomas Weed was severed from the information and tried separately. This opinion relates only to the first two sets of counts.
A. The Loguercio Conspiracy and Attempted Murder Counts
Both defendants were convicted by jury of conspiracy to commit murder (Pen. Code, §§ 182/187 [all statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated]). The charge contained 31 overt acts and named Joan Loguercio as the target. They were also convicted of the attempted murder of Ms. Loguercio on June 17, 1983, as well as on July 7, 1983 (§§ 664/187). Charges that a principal was armed with a firearm were found to be true as to both defendants. (§ 12022, subd. (a).)
Von Villas was acquitted of a charge that he attempted to administer stupefying drugs in committing the…