Pubdate: Sat, 30 Sep 2000
Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)
Copyright: 2000 The Press Democrat
Contact:  Letters Editor, P. O. Box 569, Santa Rosa CA 95402
Fax: (707) 521-5305
Feedback: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/opinion/letform.html
Website: http://www.pressdemo.com/
Forum: http://www.pressdemo.com/opinion/talk/
Author: Clark Mason, Press Democrat Staff Writer, PETALUMA MAN GIVEN 6-YEAR SENTENCE FOR ARMED ROBBERY

A Petaluma man who participated in a home-invasion robbery that included 
the rip-off of a marijuana garden was sentenced Friday to six years and 
eight months in prison.

In sending Richard J. McClean, 22, to prison, Sonoma County Superior Court 
Judge Allan Hardcastle said the robbery was terrifying for the victims, 
particularly two youngsters who were in the house with their father.

"Mr. McClean entered the home first, cased the situation, saw two young 
children were involved, and still the robbery went forward," Hardcastle said.

McClean and David Delasantos, 23, who is still awaiting sentencing, robbed 
the Burt Lane home in Petaluma close to midnight Aug. 20, 1999, according 
to court records.

McClean had a knife and Delasantos was armed with a gun.

McClean told authorities he had acquired a quantity of marijuana at the 
house before that night. Defense attorney George Arack Jr. on Friday told 
the court that McClean was robbing drug dealers, but the judge noted there 
was trial testimony that the pot in the greenhouse was being used for 
medical marijuana purposes.

According to court records, McClean had a small knife during the 15-minute 
robbery, and made threats to the adults in the house, saying, "I'll stick 
you," and "I'll hurt you." McClean struck one of the children, perhaps 
inadvertently, but nevertheless the 10-year-old boy and 9-year-old girl 
were "petrified for their life," according to Probation Officer Stephen 
Prudhomme's presentencing report.

During the robbery, both intruders demanded money and marijuana before 
going to the greenhouse and uprooting a dozen pot plants, some as tall as 
four feet.

McClean was caught in the neighborhood by a Petaluma police officer. 
Delasantos was arrested the next day.

McClean pleaded no contest in July to three counts of armed robbery.

Following a trial in July, a jury convicted Delasantos of the Petaluma home 
invasion along with two Santa Rosa armed robberies last year, one at Round 
Table Pizza on Occidental Road and the other at a check cashing store on 
Piner Road. He also was convicted of kidnapping in connection with one of 
the robberies and faces a possible life prison sentence when he comes 
before Hardcastle on Oct. 27.

In asking for leniency for McClean, defense attorney Arack noted Friday 
that his client has a relatively minimal juvenile record and his only adult 
conviction is for driving on a suspended license.

Arack said his client had left his gang involvement behind at the age of 18 
and is now married with a 2-year-old child. ""He's a young man trying to 
better himself and deal with drug addiction," Arack said.

But prosecutor Laura West said McClean was not blameless. "He was an active 
participant in a serious residential robbery," she said. "Three adults and 
two children were terrorized in the sanctity and safety of their home."

You can reach Press Democrat Staff Writer Clark Mason at 568-5312 or e-mail  ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D