Judge Bans South Gate Official From Entering Police Facilities

A judge on Wednesday barred South Gate Treasurer Albert Robles from entering any of the city’s police facilities after prosecutors charged that he had violated a court order restricting his movements.

Robles, awaiting trial on charges of making death threats against Lt. Vince Avila and two state legislators, is not allowed to be within 100 yards of the alleged targets or witnesses in the case.

Robles’ attorneys acknowledged he had visited the Police Department but argued the visits related to his official duties as treasurer and, as such, did not violate the protective order.

But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John A. Torribio said his order was a “reasonable restriction” of Robles’ movements.

“If there is a public function that involves the city management at the police station, he may not attend it,” he said in his written ruling. “The court recognizes that this limits his ability to perform 100 percent of his duties, but it allows him to perform 99.99 percent.”

In another ruling and potential blow to prosecutors, the judge ordered that an illegal weapons case against Robles be handled in a separate trial. The judge sided with Robles’ attorneys, who argued that trying the cases together would deny his right to a fair hearing.

“The judge showed that he was extremely fair and recognizes the prejudice that Albert would suffer were he tried with these weapons charges,” said Thomas M. Brown, Robles’ attorney.

Robles was arrested in April and charged with threatening Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh (D-Los Angeles), Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Whittier) and Avila.

Robles allegedly sent a death threat to Avila through a mutual friend, saying, “The way to properly kill someone is to shoot them in both eyes to be certain they are dead,” according to court documents.

Avila, worried about his safety, told two of his superior officers, both of them lieutenants who are expected to testify at the trial.

Since Robles’ arrest, prosecutors allege Robles has entered the Police Department at least three times as part of a pattern of intimidation against Avila and the other witnesses.

The day after one of Robles’ alleged visits--a meeting to introduce the city’s new acting police chief to department brass--several senior level officers were either demoted or stripped of their police cars and telephones, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Terry Bork.

Robles, Bork said, also has entered the building after hours and is believed to possess or have access to a key.

“Here you have a guy accused of threatening to kill people having entree to the city’s arsenal,” Bork said. “The message is: I have power over each of you.”

Brown denied the accusations, and said prosecutors are attempting to “inflame” their case against Robles. Each of the visits involved official business, Brown said, and Robles did not have contact with any of the witnesses.

“The D.A.’s motion based on alleged confrontations and fearful police officers is meritless. These confrontations never occurred,” said Brown in a court document.

The case has opened a rift between prosecutors and acting Police Chief Rick Lopez. Lopez, through his attorney, Glen Jonas, said Bork threatened to derail his career if he didn’t cooperate with the investigation.

Bork denies the accusations, and expressed frustration that the city’s top law enforcement official has refused to be interviewed without a city attorney being present.

Bork wants to ask questions related to the original court order barring Robles from being within 100 yards of Avila, Escutia and Firebaugh.