MARTINEZ — Prosecutors here have charged a Vallejo man with robbing a local resident during a purported car sale, in a case where the suspect was identified because he allegedly told the victim about his aspiring rap career.
The 28-year-old Vallejo resident was charged on Feb. 20 with robbery and having a prior strike conviction. He pleaded not guilty on March 4, and is in court this week for a preliminary hearing before Contra Costa Judge John Kennedy, who will rule whether the prosecution has enough evidence to keep the case going, court records show.
The robbery occurred Aug. 3, when the victim, a Martinez resident, reportedly arranged to buy a Hummer from the suspect. According to police, the victim made missteps and ignored red flags along the way, starting when he gave the man his address and agreed to meet there.
After driving the Hummer to Martinez, the Vallejo man allegedly told the victim he had forgotten the pink slip and they’d need to drive to Oakland to get it. Along the way, the suspect allegedly told the Martinez man to be careful to avoid police cars, since he had warrants out for his arrest, authorities said.
Authorities say the robbery occurred at an Orinda gas station, where the victim stopped to refuel. There, the Vallejo man allegedly brandished a gun or a replica gun — the victim wasn’t sure if it was real — and took $5,000 from the victim.
Later, the Martinez man told police the suspect had mentioned he was an unsigned rapper and gave the victim his Instagram handle, which police used to identify and eventually track down the suspect, according to court records. He is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail.