Southern California man convicted of armed robbery, earning his third felony strike and 50 years to life in prison
A third-strike felon was sentenced 50 years to life in San Bernardino County last week after he was convicted of armed robbery and other charges, according to prosecutors.
In a news release, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said Christopher Lamar, 30 of Ontario, entered a Rancho Cucamonga jewelry store armed with a handgun on October 15, 2022, yelling “this is an attack.” He then pistol-whipped the owner of the store.
Prosecutors say Lamar smashed glass display cases and stole about $20,000 worth of jewelry, as well as the owner’s iPhone.
Witnesses provided authorities with the make, model and license plate of the getaway vehicle used by Lamar and his accomplice. Deputies later tracked the owner’s phone to nearby railroad tracks, and the abandoned vehicle was found close by.
The investigation later led to Lamar being identified as a suspect. Authorities then discovered that he had an outstanding felony warrant for burglary.
He was arrested four days later on Oct. 19 after a short foot pursuit. Lamar was in possession of an un-serialized semi-automatic firearm at the time of his arrest.
A jury later convicted him of two counts of armed robbery, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. His two previous convictions for residential burglary made him a three-strike felon, making his sentence an indeterminate term of 50 years to life, according to prosecutors.
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