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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A parolee faces sentencing today for stealing a military Humvee worth more than $200,000 from an Army Reserve Center in Upland and leading police on a brief chase.
Armando Garcia, 30, of Pomona pleaded guilty in August to a federal charge of theft of United States government property. At the time of the offense, Garcia was on parole after being convicted in 2019 of state theft and burglary charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Garcia faces up to 10 years behind bars at sentencing before U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt, court papers show.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, Garcia stole a militarized High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle -- commonly known as a Humvee -- on Nov. 9, 2020.
Soon after Garcia drove off with the semi-armored combat vehicle with a turret mount, Pomona Police Department officers attempted to make a traffic stop of the unlicensed vehicle.
``During the pursuit, which lasted approximately four minutes, the Humvee traveled at excessive speeds, drove on the wrong side of the street (in the direction of oncoming traffic), failed to stop at multiple red lights and stops signs and failed to signal for turns,'' according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint.
Garcia stopped the Humvee in front of a residence on East Kingsley Avenue in Pomona, where he was taken into custody without further incident.
Inside the Humvee, police found a large pair of bolt cutters and an Army-approved padlock that appeared to have been cut, according to the complaint, which notes the padlock had secured a steel wire that was put in place to prevent the steering wheel from being turned.