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NEWPORT BEACH (CNS) - A 39-year-old felon who held sheriff's deputies at bay for hours in Rancho Santa Margarita pleaded guilty today to stabbing a neighbor and was immediately sentenced to four years in prison.
Albert Jose Robiatti pleaded guilty to a felony count of assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor count of possession of methamphetamine. Deputies were called about the stabbing at 1:45 p.m. Oct. 10, Orange County sheriff's Sgt. Todd Hylton said. The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Deputies were told the attacker returned to a nearby apartment, where he was living, but when deputies tried to contact him he would not respond, Hylton said. For several hours deputies worked to contact the suspect and eventually learned a woman and child were in the residence with the suspect.
Deputies broke a window and tossed a phone inside, finally making contact with the residents, and all three agreed to come out, Hylton said. Robiatti was arrested without incident, he added.
Robiatti has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2001, according to court records. According to a petition to revoke probation, he has convictions for forgery, receiving stolen property, burglary, vehicle theft, possession of drugs, leading police on a chase and battery on a peace officer. Robiatti was released from prison April 27 of last year and failed to report to authorities as part of his parole, prompting a recommendation on Aug. 10 of last year of 90 days in jail, according to court records. Robiatti was convicted of being a felon in possession of a gun with sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity in July 2012 and was sentenced to 15 years and four months in prison, according to court records.