RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail Story
Three strikes robber gets 227 years to life
| Tuesday, Jun 24 2008 11:58 AM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Jun 25 2008 8:08 AM
A convicted robber in a three-strikes case was sentenced Tuesday to 227 years to life, the longest sentence a judge said he’s ever imposed.
BAKERSFIELD.COM HOT TOPICS:
Loading Stories
Advertisement
Timothy Edward Spellman, 48, who already has served most of his life in prison — a place where both his mother and father served time — was sentenced to consecutive terms on six of the eight felonies he was convicted of.
That was a total of 151 years to life, plus 76 years for prior serious felonies and prior prison terms.
Judge Louis P. Etcheverry noted that Spellman while in custody earned two associate of arts degrees, one for business and office technologies and one for residential electrical construction.
But Etcheverry said Spellman’s criminal record — a conviction of five robberies in Compton in 1982, and a conviction of bank robbery in 1989 — left him no choice but to impose such a long sentence.
“He’s led a life of serious criminal activity,” the judge said.
The probation report says Spellman admitted to a $200-a-day cocaine habit.
His mother went to prison for bank robbery and his father went to prison for child molestation, the probation report says.
Spellman was convicted in April of robbing four stores at gunpoint, attempting to carjack a van with eight small children and pointing a gun at police officers.
Each of those crimes with two prior strikes carried a term of 25 years to life, although he received 26 years to life for the first robbery.
He was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a gun and felony resisting arrest.
Spellman was June 12, 2007, after the AM/PM store on Ming Avenue was robbed, a probation report says.
Police followed him as he drove a black Honda Civic on South Chester Avenue, turning onto LaFrance Drive and crashing into a white Chevy Tahoe driven by Carla Henry.
She was transporting eight children, ages 1 to 8, and got out of the car thinking Spellman was going to help.
But instead, he tried to get into her driver’s seat, and she struggled with him.
He then sought cover behind her car and pointed a gun as arriving officers.
Spellman ran as officers fired shots at him, missing. He was found hiding under some bushes in the backyard of a home in the 1300 block of El Sereno Drive.
Officer found a .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a wad of cash.
Spellman was also convicted of robbing in 2007 AM/PM stores May 28 on Mount Vernon Avenue and May 27 on Wible Road, as well as an Auto Zone on Brundage Avenue May 15.