Robert Antonio Romero of Oakland was sentenced to 31 years and eight months to state prison for using a firearm during a carjacking.
Family members and friends shook their heads as Alameda County Superior Court Judge Joan Cartwright handed down the maximum sentence of 20 years for using a firearm in a carjacking.
Romero, 29, also received additional years in prison for previous felony convictions and for being an ex-felon with a gun.
Cartwright took into account Romero’s has a long history of auto theft, robbery and drug problems. Romero was previously convicted and served time in state prison for second-degree burglary of a vehicle and felony auto theft.
“Every time we’ve seen him it’s been with some type of taking something from someone else, running away, taking cars,” Cartwright said. “It’s way past time for him to take responsibility for what he did.”
District Attorney Georgia Santos said the judge was just following the law because the 20 years is an automatic sentence for discharging a weapon during a carjacking.
“I’m really not surprised,” Santos said.
Last March, Romero, aka “Bobos,” pointed a .38 caliber semi automatic gun at James Henderson, of Newark, while he was seated in a car on the 700th block of 45th Avenue
Henderson, 36, at the time of the incident, owed Romero two speakers in exchange of a laptop, according to the police report. When Henderson refused to get out of his car, Romero shot him on the shin.
A police report stated that Romero then pointed his gun at Henderson’s head and threatened that he would kill him if he did not get out. When Henderson finally opened the door, Romero, along with two other suspects punched and kicked him.
Maribel Bautista, the mother of Romero’s daughter, was visibly upset after the sentence was handed down. Bautista claimed that Romero had insisted on his innocence. She also said there was not enough evidence to convict him and that the entire trial was rushed.
“I personally, I think the laws are messed up,” said Bautista outside the courtroom, her eyes welling up with tears.
Brian Hong, the public defender assigned to Romero, said that he will file an appeal on behalf of Romero, who has 60 days to file.
“I didn’t think it was fair,” Hong said.
Filed under: Public Safety
