PALMDALE – A 42-year-old man was sentenced Wednesday to 47 years to life in state prison after shoplifting at a Palmdale hardware store and then fighting security personnel, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Geoffrey Scott Bueno, aka Spanky, received the long sentence because the conviction was his “third strike”.
Bueno was first convicted in 1993 of voluntary manslaughter for being the driver in a gang-related shooting. He was convicted again in 2009 of second-degree robbery for shoplifting and then fighting security personnel, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
On March 5, 2014, while on parole on the 2009 robbery case, Bueno went to a home improvement store in Palmdale and shoplifted various items before leaving the store, according to evidence presented at his trial. When confronted by store security, Bueno kicked and wrestled two loss-prevention officers before they managed to detain him, said Deputy District Attorney Eunice Kim.
Bueno also had methamphetamine in his possession, the prosecutor added.
Bueno was convicted June 1 of two felony counts of second-degree robbery and one misdemeanor count of possession of methamphetamine in connection with the Palmdale case, according to the prosecutor.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station, Palmdale Station.
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Kristine says
WTF? Something just doesn’t sound right here,I think this guy was totally railroaded.Is it because election time is coming up or what?
desertrat says
First off, posession of Methamphetamine should be a Felony, not a misdemeanor. California has become so lax, so irresponsible. Jerry will just have him transferred to County custody so the loser can be back on the street again.
Laughing says
Rather than treating addiction as a crime, how about we change the system so that it is treated as an illness with counseling and habit training to address the issues?
Bernie Sander doesn't know Economics says
Its still a crime, a person willingly chooses a drug. Usually those that desire to label it an illness are willing to remove the responsibility from the perpetrator. Get Real you Bernie Sanders Hippie. We don’t have the money for heaven, only for reality.
Laughing says
Well, nice try, but I was never for Bernie, or Hillary, or Trump. Nor has my conservative self ever been referred to as a hippie by people that meet me in person.
The drugs are normally taken to address an empty spot in a person, or for fun. Then it gets out of hand as an addiction, just like pain meds, alcohol, tobacco or other substances. The user still chose but has lost their control to choose an out from the abuse. They need help, jail does not help.
Now I am not at all religious but as I recall Jesus (the name called upon by so many name calling conservatives) believed in helping others to overcome, to become better, to lead.
Irena says
Many times rehab is offered as an alternative to jail, especially for 1st time offenders. People have to want to change though, it can’t be forced on them. At some point they have to take responsibility for their actions as well.
Yes drug use can be a sign of self medicating, but just like when someone abuses alcohol and choose to drive drunk, they cross the line. It shouldn’t be any different if a person steals, commits fraud to feed that addiction.
Laughing says
My comment was about the sentence making having meth a felony.
I completely agree that if a theft, robbery, etc crime is part of the problem that the perpetrator needs to serve time for those crimes. Sometimes it can be hard to prove the thefts though. But yes, time for the crime, and treatment for the mind.
sammy P says
He was around 18 when he was a driver in a “drive by shooting” (i did the math) and OK, that’s a serious crime.. but he did his time. NOW.. he’s 42, is hooked on meth and shoplifts to support his habit, and when caught by store security, he fights, and I am sure sometimes he gets away.. but when caught, he is charged with “Robbery” just because he fought – is that fair?
I am not one who is soft on crime… BUT. in THIS case (unless there is info I don’t know) – I think this guy needs Help more then jail.. His record just does not justify locking him up and throwing away the key..
Don’t judge people.. its easy to “hate” and form an opinion.. when you have not walked in another man’s shoes….
Michael S. Lynch says
There is a lot of this case you don’t know. Like how the loss prevention never said they were loss prevention they just tackled him from behind. Or how about how the tape from the security cameras was altered or even when he was tackled from behind by a loss provention and a front end employee (who was never trained in loss prevention) they dislocated his shoulder before he attempted to defend himself. And what about how the loss prevention and his assist had conflict stories when they testified.
He did steal $60.00 in merchandise. And yes if someone tackled you from behind dislocated your shoulder. Im sure you would kick and wrestle to get them off you too. And for that in no way deserved the type of sentence he received. To put him away for 47 years. Its upsetting to know our court system is this unjust.
Mike says
There is a lot of this case you don’t know. Like how the loss prevention never said they were loss prevention they just tackled him from behind. Or how about how the tape from the security cameras was altered or even when he was tackled from behind by a loss provention and a front end employee (who was never trained in loss prevention) they dislocated his shoulder before he attempted to defend himself. And what about how the loss prevention and his assist had conflict stories when they testified.
He did steal $60.00 in merchandise. And yes if someone tackled you from behind dislocated your shoulder. Im sure you would kick and wrestle to get them off you too. And for that in no way deserved the type of sentence he received. To put him away for 47 years. Its upsetting to know our court system is this unjust.
Shane Falco says
What happens in a plea bargain is that when a person pleas to one count, all the other counts/charges are dismissed as part of the plea. I have no issues with a plea bargain and getting a reduced sentence for cooperation, but make them plea to every count. That way the general public, the police officer running his name a database, and the criminal himself knows exactly what he has done.
Often is the case, for example, somebody breaks into a home (strikeable felony) and steals a firearm, some jewelry and what every they can to fuel their drug habit and is caught. If the defendant drags the case out long enough, often a prosecutor and defense attorney will offer the plea to the drug charge to get rid of the case and offer diversion or whatever feel good program is out there and poof…the other charges are gone. General public thinks this guy is just some poor sick individual in need of treatment…not knowing all the crimes he committed.
This Bueno guy, a known gang member, has been arrested and charged in other cases but witnesses somehow didn’t want to testify so those cases were dropped. It’s not as if this guy had only three criminal encounters and just happened to get caught and prosecuted all three times and is just some victim or fate here.
K Hudgens, LEO Retired says
Now he will wait for LA DA Jackey Lacey to come rescue him from prison, such as the Ave S Park and Ride murderer case. She will probably wait until his appeal in state court. Maybe Obama will intervene on his behalf too. It is sickening to see the revolving door and convicted criminals walking the streets after the justice system is going in reverse. What does this say to the victims?
Tim Scott says
What???? Steals a FIREARM??? But aren’t you one of those people that says the best way to prevent criminals from having access to guns is having them laying around everywhere? How could you be suggesting that a firearm could be stolen? Doesn’t that play into the “liberal assault on the second amendment” that your ilk are always moaning about?
W. Bailey says
You’re right. This guy’s first serious conviction was at 18 but how long before that was he breaking the law and victimizing people? But let’s start at 18. Fast forward to 42. 24 years right? So How long do we go feeling sorry for this guy? Who’s fault is it? Society? Nope. Mom and Dad I say. This guy had 24 years to get his act together and hasn’t. How many free drug and self help programs as in LA county? Tons. He has no respect for anyone poor anything. So why should we give him respect back? I’ll tell you why. Because we were raised right. Oh well, lock him up until he learns. But off he doesn’t try for himself then he will never learn. Let me guess you’re voting for Hilary too?
desertrat says
Sammy, sounds to me like you ARE soft on crime. Try being a loss prevention officer or a business owner before you mitigate the gravity of the situation.
Stephanie James says
Sammy, I understand exactly what you are saying. You have this rapist up in Northern California that will be getting out, or has already been released after serving only 90 days in jail, not prison. This is whats wrong with the system. You have some that commit horrendous crimes and get less time, but we will fill the prisons with folks convicted of petty crimes. I don’t care what no one says, 47 years is ridiculous! Period. The fact that they added robbery to the charge was just to maximize his sentence. Stealing is wrong and I do not agree with that at all. But if a person is out there stealing and someone is coming after them, they catch up to them, grab them, and that person struggles just for one second, you have robbery. You would think they mean a gun was put to someone’s head and demanded merchandise or money, and that wasn’t the case. He stole, ran, they chased him, he struggled, there you have it, Strong Armed Robbery. That’s nothing new. They have been doing that for years! Yes he should go to jail, but not 47 years. And just maybe drug treatment would be better in this case. It’ll save the taxpayers some money. We will pay for his petty crime, 47 years it will be coming out of our pockets. You really want to pay all that time, or could we come up with creative sentences. I wish more judges would think outside the box.
Irritated says
Should have never gotten out after the voluntary manslaughter conviction, aka murder!
Rego says
Hammer Time
Good riddens Loser
Anonymous says
Raghi Khajemtourian has had more strikes than that and NOTHING happens to him. He’s been arrested for domestic abuse, violating a restraining order, convicted of stealing from Home Depot, credit card fraud and much more. His rap sheet is incredibly long. There’s even more criminal activity that he’s gotten away with.
He’s labeled as deported but still in this country. Because of that stupid prop 47 he was able to turn his felony convictions into misdemeanors. As far as i know his brother Robert is in jail and he should be in there too! Maybe the cops should keep an eye on section 8 housing on 29th st east in Palmdale.
Tomorrow he’ll be at the Burbank Courthouse for a progress report. What a joke.
http://abc7.com/archive/8163752/
Kd says
Prop 47 isn’t stupid,Excessive sentencing is why prop47 was needed
Shane Falco says
The Clinton crime bill resulted in lower crime rates. People now complain that too many people committing crime are getting locked up. Many urban folks and left leaning voters want more lenient sentencing.
Let’s not consider something as simple as not breaking the law, instead let us take the repercussions away from being a criminal.
Crime goes back up.
It’s funny how that works.