Yuba City man pleads no contest to robbery

A Yuba City man pleaded no contest Friday in Yuba County to robbing a man last year.

Leroy Edward Sutton, 41, cut a deal to spend the next four years in state prison in connection with the Sept. 1 robbery and assault of Ronald Irving, 63, at a home in the 8000 block of Smartsville Road, authorities said.

Sentencing is scheduled April 2 in Yuba County Superior Court.

Sutton is also charged with making criminal threats and victim intimidation, Deputy Yuba County District Attorney Melanie Bendorf said.

"We expect to dismiss those (charges) at his sentencing," Bendorf said Friday.

The Yuba County Sheriff's Department said Sutton and two woman threatened Irving and took about $1,700 in cash and jewelry. Investigators said Sutton threatened to harm Irving if he reported the incident to authorities.

Authorities said co-defendant Nicole R. Acosta, 32, punched Irving multiple times.

Acosta, an Olivehurst resident, was arrested in October and pleaded no contest in January to a robbery charge. Her next court appearance is set for April 15, according to court records.

A third co-defendant, Chrystal M. Likens, 21, of Smartsville pleaded no contest to robbery in December and is scheduled for sentencing Monday, according to court records.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.