Robber Pleads in Botched Jewelry Store Heist that Killed 2

A defendant involved in a botched jewelry store heist in San Juan Capistrano that led to the deaths of two suspects pleaded guilty today to voluntary manslaughter and agreed to testify for the prosecution.

Eddie Allen Clark Sr., 53, also pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted second-degree robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons. Clark, scheduled to be sentenced April 10, was expected to get 10 years behind bars, Simmons said.

His son, Eddie Allen Clark Jr., 30, was also considering a plea deal, Simmons said.

While none of the defendants is accused of firing the fatal shots, they are still charged with murder under the “provocative act” theory that their actions caused two co-conspirators to be fatally shot, Simmons said.

Attorneys worked on pretrial motions for about two weeks, and just as jury selection was slated to begin in November, Clark Sr., told a judge that he wanted to accept a plea bargain that would include him testifying against his co-defendants, Simmons said.

Attorneys will return to court Jan. 26 to begin the trial against the two remaining defendants.

If Clark Jr. accepts a plea deal he likely won’t testify against Alan Keith Hunter, 42, of Moreno Valley, and James Stephan Paschall, 44, of Gardena, Simmons said.

George Anthony Boozer, 39, accepted a plea deal to testify in the trial for prosecutors. He pleaded guilty May 22, 2013, to assault with a semiautomatic firearm and five counts of attempted second-degree robbery, all felonies, which is expected to net him 12 years and four months in prison, Simmons said.

If Boozer does not truthfully testify during the trial, then murder charge will be reinstated, according to Simmons. The same goes for Clark Sr., the prosecutor added.

Robert Earl Avery and Desmond Brown, both 39-year-old Los Angeles residents, were fatally wounded June 24, 2011, at Monaco Jewelers at 33955 Doheny Park Road.

Avery was buzzed into the locked store about 11:15 a.m., but he held the door open for Brown and Clark, Simmons said.

Avery left the showroom and went into the work area of the store, where he pulled out a gun and pointed it at the store manager’s head and chest, Simmons said. The store’s owner shot Avery and then shot Brown as he ran toward him, Simmons said.

Avery’s clutching of the manager by the shoulder and holding him at gunpoint were key to the enhanced charges, Simmons said.

Clark ran away and eluded authorities, Simmons said. Hunter and Boozer were the alleged lookouts and Paschall is accused of being the getaway driver, according to the prosecutor.

Investigators linked Boozer and Hunter to the heist through phone records, and DNA evidence allegedly linked Clark and Paschall to the crime, Simmons said.

• City News Service