On Tuesday, state prison sentences were given to Patricio Munoz, 43, and Juan Espinoza, 25, the two men responsible for a burglary in the home of Karen Bass, the Mayor of Los Angeles. The theft involved two .38-caliber revolvers. Munoz was handed a two-year sentence, while Espinoza was given a slightly longer sentence of 32 months. The pair were initially charged with a felony count of first-degree residential burglary and two counts of grand theft of a firearm last year.
District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement announcing the charges:
“Everyone deserves to be safe in their home. Residential burglary is a violation of that safety in the most fundamental way. Gun thefts have increased since the pandemic began. Many of these stolen guns are then used to commit violent crimes.”
The crime occurred in September 2022 at Bass’ residence in Baldwin Vista. At the time of the burglary, she was serving as a congresswoman and was also running for the position of mayor. The stolen items were specifically two .38-caliber revolvers, as per the filed complaint. The District Attorney reported an upward trend in firearm thefts from the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, with a significant number of these stolen guns being involved in numerous violent criminal activities throughout the county.
