Duo Pleads Not guilty In San Gabriel Valley Robberies

PASADENA, CA — Two men pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges stemming from a series of armed robberies throughout Los Angeles County including the botched Pasadena robbery that got them arrested.

Malik Hassan Arthur, 19, is charged with 12 counts of second-degree robbery and one count of attempted second-degree robbery, along with an allegation that he personally used a handgun during the commission of the crimes, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Co-defendant Thomas Glen Rollins, 22, is charged with six counts of second-degree robbery and one count of attempted second-degree robbery, along with a gun allegation.

Arthur and Rollins allegedly robbed doughnut shops and convenience stores throughout Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties between May 5 and May 31, according to Deputy District Attorney Brandy Chase.

Arthur -- whose bail was set at $1.35 million -- could face more than 66 years in state prison if convicted as charged.

Rollins -- who was being held in lieu of $750,000 bail -- could face more than 13 years in state prison if convicted of the charges.

The two were arrested along with a teenage boy by Pasadena police during a May 31 robbery at a doughnut shop, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The status of any criminal case on the teenager was not immediately available.

The suspects matched descriptions of males involved in a series of robberies at convenience stores, gas stations and doughnut shops throughout the county, according to Sgt. Michael Maher of the Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau's Burglary-Robbery Task Force.

"During the commission of these robberies, the assailants would enter the locations armed with a handgun," Maher said. "The suspects would order clerks to open cash registers (and) they would proceed to steal cash, miscellaneous grocery items and lottery tickets. The suspects and weapon appeared to be the same in each of these robberies."

The businesses targeted by the suspects were in an unincorporated area around Covina and the cities of Torrance, Bellflower, South Gate and Fontana, along with heists in various parts of Los Angeles.

After being arrested in Pasadena, the suspects were questioned by sheriff's detectives, and they "admitted their involvement in several of the armed robberies," Maher said.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock