Jewelry store robber convicted after stealing more than $42,000

Roberto Gonzalez Barba, 21, of Visalia was convicted of robbing a Dinuba jewelry store and holding 11 people in the store at gunpoint, said Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward.

The crime happened April 1. Ward said Barba wore a rag over his mouth and a baseball cap when he came into the store and held four employees, five customers and two children at gunpoint. Barba told the employees not to sound the store alarm and then smashed a glass jewelry case. He took off with $42,288 worth of gold bracelets, necklaces, earrings, charms and rings. A witness identified Barba the next day and he was arrested.

Blood drops found at the scene linked Barba to the crime, according to Ward.

Barba was convicted of four felony counts of armed robbery with the special allegations of using a firearm, four felony counts of assault with a firearm with the special allegations of personal use of a firearm, one felony count of being a masked criminal with a firearm in a public place, one felony count of dissuading a witness and two misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest.

Barba faces up to 37 years and 8 months in state prison at his sentencing on March 3.

This story was originally published January 24, 2017 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Jewelry store robber convicted after stealing more than $42,000."