VAN NUYS : 3 Convicted in String of Armed Robberies

Three San Fernando Valley men were convicted Tuesday in connection with an armed robbery spree that culminated in a chase in which four police cars were damaged.

The robbers, who each face at least 15 years in state prison, specialized in holding up liquor stores and small businesses, authorities said.

After one day of deliberations, a Van Nuys Superior Court jury convicted Ralph Nieto, Tyrone Mitchell and Julio Mancilla on a variety of charges.

Nieto, a 25-year-old Van Nuys resident, was found guilty of 18 felony counts stemming from the crime spree. The jury acquitted him on one robbery charge, but he still faces a maximum sentence of about 40 years in prison.

Mitchell, 24, of North Hollywood was convicted on six felony counts, including evading arrest and causing injury to a police officer. He faces more than 20 years in prison.

Mitchell, who told investigators he trained as a Hollywood stunt driver, was behind the wheel of the getaway car that led police on a 40-minute chase through the Valley after the trio’s last caper Sept. 17, 1992, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol Fisch.

During the pursuit, four police vehicles crashed before the car Mitchell was driving crashed in Van Nuys, according to testimony at the trial.

Mancilla, a 28-year-old Arleta man, was found guilty of four counts of armed robbery. He faces a maximum term of more than 15 years in prison.

Judge Michael Harwin is scheduled to sentence Nieto on Feb. 4, followed by Mitchell and Mancilla on Feb. 10.