Charles Steve Ortez, who allegedly stole Twinkies and other items from a Twin Peaks Market at gunpoint, returns to court on Wednesday, December 10. (File Photo)
By G. T. Houts
San Bernardino, CA – The so-called Twinkies bandit — Charles Steve Ortez, Jr. — returns to San Bernardino County Superior Court for a disposition/reset hearing at 8:30 a.m. in Department S-9, on Wednesday, December 10. Ortez is accused of robbing a Twin Peaks convenience store at gunpoint of Twinkies and other items.
On Wednesday, November 12, Judge Lorenzo Rafael Balderrama continued the case against Ortez after hearing there is possible resolution in the works.
Judge Balderrama was informed during the previous hearing by Deputy District Attorney Laura Robles and Public Defender Derrick Smith that a plea bargain is close to be accepted by both parties and requested a continuation to complete the deal.
Ortez remains in custody at the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino on $500,000 bail. He has entered a not guilty plea to all charges.
THE TWINKIES CASE
Mountain High Market in Twin Peaks. (Photo by ROTWNEWS.com)
Ortez, Jr., now 64, is charged with allegedly robbing Mountain High Market in Twin Peaks on Monday, October 1, 2012, of Twinkies, milk, Coke, whiskey and cash.
The armed robbery, utilizing a Taurus .38-caliber revolver, took place about three minutes before the market was scheduled to close for the night, according to documents released by the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station. The robber was carrying a black duffel bag and he utilized it to carry the items taken after he ordered the female cashier to lie on the floor while he added money from the register.
The gun believed used in the robbery was recovered when Ortez was arrested at 9:30 a.m. on October 31, 2012. It was his 62nd birthday. (85)