Venezuelan man pleads not guilty in Beverly Hills hotel robbery

In Los Angeles, Jesus Eduardo Padron Rojas, a 19-year-old Venezuelan, pleaded not guilty to a federal charge related to an armed robbery that occurred on August 7 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The robbery involved the theft of a $1 million emerald-encrusted watch from a British tourist. During the incident, one suspect brandished a handgun while the other snatched the watch from the victim's wrist. The watch was later recovered in Miami, linked to a separate theft investigation. Padron's co-defendant, Jamer Mauricio Sepulveda Salazar, 22, from Colombia, also pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery and firearm possession. The two suspects were apprehended after a traffic stop in Riverside, where they were found in a vehicle connected to another robbery that occurred just days prior. Law enforcement discovered a Glock handgun registered to Christopher Dorner, a former LAPD officer known for a violent rampage in 2013, during a search of their Airbnb. The circumstances surrounding how the suspects obtained the firearm remain unclear, raising questions about their criminal connections. Prosecutors indicated that if convicted, Sepulveda could face life in prison, while Padron could receive a sentence of up to 20 years. The case highlights the ongoing issues of violent crime and the use of firearms in robberies, particularly in high-profile areas like Beverly Hills. A tentative trial date has been set for October 22, as the legal proceedings continue to unfold. The investigation into the suspects' activities and the origins of the weapon is ongoing, with law enforcement seeking to understand the broader implications of this crime and its connections to previous incidents.