Trial and Conviction
Carmona was arrested in Costa Mesa, California, just days after his 16th birthday; he had no prior criminal record and steadfastly maintained his innocence. When eyewitnesses failed to identify Carmona, police retrieved a Lakers cap obtained from the getaway driver and placed the hat on Carmona's head. With the hat from the getaway driver placed on Carmona's head, the eyewitnesses finally said Carmona was the robber. During his interrogation with Irvine detectives, police repeatedly lied when they told Carmona that they had evidence—including videotape—proving that he had committed the robbery. A 33-year-old man who admitted being the driver in the robberies identified Carmona as his accomplice as part of a plea bargain. An investigator for Carmona later said the man recanted and said he'd never met Carmona until they were arrested. Police never established a link between the two.
In fact, no physical evidence linked him to the crimes, even though police recovered a handgun, a backpack and a getaway car used in the crimes.
Read more about this topic: Arthur Paul Carmona
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