A National City man believed to be the getaway driver in 11 robberies and attempted robberies in one night has pleaded guilty to committing two hold-ups and faces up to six years in prison.
A sentencing date for Benjamin Hernandez, 24, will be set on April 20 in San Diego Superior Court, said Deputy District Attorney Michael MacNeil on Tuesday. The remaining nine charges will be dismissed.
Joseph Andres Garcia, 20, is charged with eight counts of robbery and three attempted robberies in the same series and will stand trial on April 20. Garcia has pleaded not guilty.
Hernandez was arrested Feb. 3, 2014, by San Diego Police after a witness wrote down the license plate number of the BMW used as the getaway car. It was traced to Hernandez’s home in National City. Garcia was arrested two days later.
The victims, 10 men and one woman, testified last April in the preliminary hearing. Most victims were robbed at gunpoint on Feb. 2, many were pedestrians. Some said guns were held to their heads.
The first robbery happened about 6:50 p.m. in Ocean Beach, and other hold-ups occurred in Hillcrest, Golden Hill, Mission Beach, and the Midtown area.
Two students were held up at UCSD in La Jolla. The wallets and cell phones were taken from each victim.
Both remain in jail on $500,000 bail each.
