Two plead guilty in robberies, murder

By Matt Pordum (contact)

Friday, Aug. 12, 2005 | 9:21 a.m.

Two men accused of robbing two McDonald's restaurants and killing a tourist who attempted to stop them from fleeing pleaded guilty Thursday to avoid a potential death sentence.

Charles Anthony Walker and Shawn White were scheduled to go to trial on Monday for the killing of 49-year-old Thomas Latimer of Maitland, Fla., and multiple charges of robbery and burglary.

The plea agreement also encompassed charges White and Walker faced for holdups of three 7-Elevens, a Jack in the Box restaurant and a Grumpy's Convenience Store in January.

Walker, who shot Latimer, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon and three counts each of robbery with use of a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Under the terms of the negotiation, if he were to be sentenced to anything less than life without the possibility of parole, prosecutors can back out of the agreement and go forward to trial.

White pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and same robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges as Walker did. Under the terms of his agreement, if he is sentenced to anything less than 30 years to life in prison prosecutors can back out of the agreement and go forward to trial.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure will sentence Walker and White on Sept. 14.

Prosecutor Robert Daskas said the deal made sense because "our primary concern was for the family of the victim and they wanted to know that the shooter was never going to see the light of day again."

White's attorney, Deputy Special Public Defender Randy Pike, said the negotiation would have never been reached if it weren't for Walker not wanting White to face the possibility of death or life in prison without parole.

"Mr. Walker accepted his responsibility as someone Shawn (White) looked up to, like he was his big brother. He (Walker) made all the decisions and he planned the robberies. He was the only one who handled the weapon."

"He felt bad, and felt responsible for putting White in this situation."

Walker's attorney, Joseph Sciscento, said, "The only reason Walker pleaded guilty was because he didn't' want White to live the rest of his life in prison."

Sciscento said Walker never had much of a chance in life because he "was in and out of prisons growing up in South-Central Los Angeles, he had no guidance, no father and no male role models."

During Walker and White's preliminary hearing, Dennis Cross, who was attending the World of Concrete show at the Las Vegas Convention Center with Latimer, testified the pair were eating lunch at the McDonald's on Paradise Road near Twain Avenue on Jan. 21 when they heard a scream come from the cash register area.

Cross identified Walker in court as the man he saw pointing a gun at the register while White jumped over the counter and stole the money. He said Walker left the restaurant first, and when White followed him out, Latimer chased him.

He said Latimer and White "had their hands on each other' in the parking lot and Walker was in the driver's seat of a grey four-door car. He said Latimer and White exchanged punches, prompting Walker to make a move.

"Walker got out of the car with one foot on the floor board and one outside,' Cross said. "Latimer and White separated, and Walker fired two shots into Latimer. He (Latimer) turned around and dropped to the ground. White got into the car and they drove off.'

Cross took down the license plate number on the car before returning to Latimer, who lay on the pavement of the parking lot.

Less than 20 minutes later police pulled over and arrested Walker and White near Sierra Vista Drive and Swenson Street after identifying a car matching the one witnessed by Cross.

Latimer was taken to University Medical Center, where he died of his wounds early on Jan. 22.