Man Suspected in Violent Robbery Enters Plea

A Lemon Grove man who robbed an El Cajon credit union office, terrifying victims by firing a pistol into the air, pleaded guilty today to three felony charges, including assault with a firearm.

Richard Raul Bareno, Jr., 35, pleaded guilty on the day his preliminary hearing was to take place. He will be sentenced on Dec. 16 to 16 years in state prison.

About 5 p.m. last July 9, Bareno -- who has a tattoo of a dollar sign on his right cheek -- entered the California Coast Credit Union branch in the 800 block of Jackman Street, fired a shot from a handgun he was carrying, jumped onto a service counter, pointed the weapon at tellers and shouted at them to give him cash.

The tellers complied, and the bandit fled with an undisclosed amount of money, El Cajon police Lt. Frank La Haye said. No one was injured.

Authorities publicized surveillance photos of the robber, generating tips that led to Bareno's arrest a week after the robbery. Bareno also has a 2012 conviction for escape, said Deputy District Attorney Gordon Davis.

-- City News Service