A preliminary hearing was postponed today to March 19 for two teenagers accused of holding up pedestrians in a crime spree that ended in a police pursuit and crash.
Victor Ledesma, 18, and 17-year-old Jonah Ledesma – who are not related – are each facing six counts of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery, felony evading and auto theft in connection with several crimes that occurred within hours of each other in January.
Two 15-year-olds were also arrested in connection with the crime spree and are being prosecuted in Juvenile Court, said Deputy District Attorney Jim Koerber.
Authorities allege that the crime spree began shortly after 12:30 a.m. Jan. 23 at First and Pennsylvania avenues. San Diego police said four robbers pulled guns and knives on pedestrians in Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park and La Jolla.
Officers caught up with the quartet in Mission Beach around 2:15 a.m. and a pursuit ensued. The chase ended in the Point Loma area when the suspects’ car ran over a spike strip and smashed into another car, police said.
Victor Ledesma has a robbery conviction from 2012 and faces up to 28 years in prison if convicted. Jonah Ledesma faces up to 18 years behind bars if found guilty. – City News Service