Man Charged With Santa Monica Convenience Store Robbery

SANTA MONICA, CA – A 33-year-old man has been charged with robbing a Santa Monica convenience store at knifepoint and possessing drugs, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Redmond James O'Neal has been charged with one count each of second-degree robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a smoking device, possession of an injection/ingestion device and two counts of possessing a controlled substance, according to the press release.

The charging document also alleges O'Neal was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance in jail in 2009 and possession of a firearm by a felon in 2015. Prosecutors are asking that bail be set at $125,000, the press release said.

On May 8, O'Neal allegedly armed himself with a knife, entered a Santa Monica convenience store and demanded cash from the clerk, prosecutors said. Authorities were called and he was arrested near the store, according to prosecutors. When police took O'Neal into custody, they reportedly discovered that he was in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to the press release.

If convicted as charged, O'Neal faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in state prison, the press release said. The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

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