The Signal from Santa Clarita, California • 1

4 czzz TTQTTCF iSn 1 SH7P TT A IT TUESDAY September 29, 1998 25 CENTS (0) 0)3 (TV 3d03iS3lL3 iDSHTOQ. mm (r Woman, teen-ager accused in 'shop and rob' incidents fornia Youth Authority for up to seven years. The case remains under investigation by SCV sheriff's detectives, Los Angeles police and the FBI. "He is a potential suspect in other robberies in the Los Angeles area," Lidamore said. "There is the possibility for more filings." Authorities suspect the pair may be linked to a ring responsible for as many as 66 hold-ups in the greater Los Angeles area.

They have been dubbed the "Shop and Rob" or "Three bandits because all the hpictc rurnr at htnnlfc incirfo markets The pair were arrested Thursday after allegedly robbing a Wells Fargo Bank branch inside Vons Market in Stevenson Ranch. Authorities allege the younger bandit gave a teller a note demanding money, took the cash and fled the store, jumping into a waiting car driven by King. A Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's deputy responding to the robbery call spotted the alleged getaway vehicle on Interstate 5 and followed it until it exited the freeway in West Los Angeles, where the two were arrested at gunpoint. Prosecutors also charged the teen with the Sept. 2 robbery of a Downey Savings branch inside Hughes Market in Stevenson Ranch, and the Sept.

10 heist of a Washington Mutual branch at Vons Market on Lyons Avenue in Newhall. Although bank robbery is a federal crime, the teen would not be charged in U.S. District Court because the federal government does not have jurisdiction over juveniles, Lidamore said. "Unless he turns out to be an adult," she said, adding that the teen bandit may be lying about his age and seems more sophisticated than But if tried as a juvenile and convicted cn the three counts, he could be placed in the custody of the Cali- By Carol Chambers Signal Staff Writer Prosecutors Monday filed felony charges against a woman and a teenager suspected of pulling a string of "shop and rob" bank heists from branches located inside supermarkets in the Santa Clarita Valley. The 17-year-old alleged bandit, whose name was not released because he is a minor, is scheduled to be arraigned today in Sylmar Juvenile Court on three counts of robbery.

"We also have filed a request that he be tried as an adult," Deputy District Attorney Nancy Lidamore said. "We're not alleging anything special, at this time just the three counts of strong-arm robbery." His alleged accomplice, 24-year-old Latonya King of Los Angeles, was charged Monday in Newhall Municipal Court to one count of being an accessory after-the-fact. and involve a note demanding "Big bills, Knight 1 A 9 onof6 t.a! The Chicago Cubs hold off a San Francisco rally in the ninth inning to win their wildcard playoff game, 5-3. Their reward: a first-round playoff or matcnup against Atlanta. B1 1 career By Alecia Foster Signal Staff Writer State Sen.

William J. "Pete? Knight may be 5, 'I 'x 5 V. 3 KS The Amen-" retired from the United States Air Force, but his there are still spotlighted throughout the country. On Oct. 17 that career will can Cancer Society holds its sec-r ond annual Autumn Extravagan za at the Hyatt Valencia Hotel, attracting 200 guests, many of them recognizable in the Santa ia.ii.iimn I Clarita Valley.

A4 tw3T3r EF-I Hurricane Georges stalls over Mississippi's Coast, losing its hurricane- force winds but dumping torren tial rain at an inch-an-hour pace over the region. 3 a A Los Angeles- based organization will kick off Getting ready for Business Ex its 13th annual Rideshare Week next week. The organization offers carpooling assistance and other alternative transit options. 'fLm be recognized KNIGHT yet again as he is inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in It was a complete surprise," Knight said of the honor. A letter from New Mexico's governor recently notified the former test pilot his impending induction is for his accomplishments in the X-15 rocketplane.

On Oct. 3, 1997, Knight set a world speed record of 4,250 mph, or Mach 6.7 in the plane. Today, that record still stands and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Later that year, Knight also took his plane to an altitude of 280,000 feet, or 53 miles above the Earth, earning him astronaut wings. Kl ght's career in the Air Force spanned 32 years.

During that time, he earned the rank of Colonel, and also became the Vice Commander of Edwards Air Force Base. Although he has received several honors as the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal, Knight said this news was just as exciting. "I think it's right up on the top," he said. "It's a tremendous honor." Knight will be one of several in the 1998 class of inductees. Included are the father of the laws of motion and gravity, Sir Isaac Newton, and the husband and wife team Felix and Jeannette Piccard.

The couple are best known for their high altitude research in plas--tic film balloons. Jeannette Piccard also piloted a balloon to an altitude of 57, 579 feet. "I am very honored to join such an illustrious group in the International Space Hall of Fame," Knight said. Workers from A.V. Rentals work on putting up tents at Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway In preparation for the Santa Clarita Valley Home and Business Expo, which takes place Friday through Sunday.

Photo by DAN CUStCKTtw Signal C3 C2sj Prosecutors decline to file charges against three aliened carjacking sus- -J I i pects, saying they need time to sort out the different stories they were hearing. A3 PARTLY CLOUDY clouds, chance of brief shower today. A9 BUSINESS A6 CLASSIFIED B7 COMICS E9 ENTERTAINmInT B5 LIFESTYLE A4 NATION A9 OBITUARIES A3 OPINION A8 SANTA CLARITA VALLEY A3 SPORTS "B1 STATE A9 Manslaughter charge filed against California moves up presidential primary COC football player in girl's death By Carol Chambers Signal Staff Writer A9 WORLD A College of the Canyons football player has been hflsMas TOT charged in the death of 9-year-old Sandra Kay Pearce, a young runner who was fatally injured when she was struck by the player's truck on Rockwell TODAY'S QUESTION: Canyon Road. Joshua Catne, 20, faces one misdemeanor count of Prosecutors allege as a basis of the charge that Caine committed a violation when he made an "unlawful turning movement" causing his truck to drive onto the sidewalk. According to sheriff's traffic investigators, Caine had hurt his leg in football practice and was driving with a bag on ice on his knee.

He allegedly took his eyes off the road when he leaned down to adjust the ice pack, and his Toyota pickup swerved to the right and over the curb, striking the young runners. Authorities had not determined Monday whether they would seek additional charges for injuries to the other two children. Caine, who was notified of the charge by letter from the district attorney's office, could not be reached for comment Monday. He is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Newhall Municipal Court next month. SACRAMENTO (AP) Gov.

Pete Wilson signed a bill Monday that pushes up the state's presidential primary to the earliest possible date March 7, 2000 in an attempt to give California more of a say in the race for the White House. The bill moves the date of California's primary to the first Tuesday in March, which would be about a week after New Hampshire's traditionally first-in-the-nation primary in presidential election years. The precinct caucuses in Iowa are even earlier. "California voters are finally going to have some clout in deciding who the major parties nominate for president," Wilson said. California is the most popu-' lous state, with 33 million people, and its economy ranks as the seventh-largest in the world.

Yet California primaries in recent years have typically taken place in June, long after the nominations are sealed up. In a one-time-only step taken See PRIMARY, page A3 vehicular manslaughter stemming from the Aug. 3 1 accident in which his truck allegedly hopped the curb and hit three children jogging on the sidewalk with the Santa Clarita Young Runners track and cross What do you think is more Bxciting: The Mark McGwire 'Sammy Sosa home-run race or playoffs? VhOMERSi 287-3531 PLAYOFFS: 287-3532 country program. Sandra was pronounced dead the next day at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. The two other children, both 8, are recovering fran their injuries.

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