Vista Bank Kidnappers Convicted
Huggins, Ortiz Face Multiple Life Terms
POSTED: 3:44 p.m. PDT September 12, 2002
UPDATED: 4:02 p.m. PDT September 12, 2002
SAN DIEGO -- Two men convicted Thursday of kidnapping a Bank of America manager and forcing her to rob her own bank will likely "never walk in the community again," a prosecutor said outside the courtroom.
Christopher Huggins and Robert Ortiz (pictured, left), both 27, were convicted of kidnapping for ransom, conspiracy to kidnap for robbery, robbery, robbery in concert and burglary for the November 2000 crime spree.
Most of the counts included allegations of use of a firearm and damage to property.
Huggins and Ortiz each face a maximum penalty of three life terms, plus 120 years, when they are sentenced Nov. 8.
Christopher Butler was convicted by another jury in July and could receive a similar prison term.
"For all practical purposes, they'll be extremely old men when they get out or they will never walk in the community again," Deputy District Attorney Thomas Manning said.
In his opening statement, Manning told jurors that Huggins, Ortiz and Butler broke into the home of Michelle Ramskill-Estey on Elevado Road in Vista, where she was playing video games with her 7-year-old daughter, Breea.
The defendants, according to Manning, had what they claimed was dynamite strapped to them. Estey's roommate supposedly was similarly booby-trapped when she arrived home.
Estey was forced into her bank branch on E. Bobier Drive, where she took $360,000, then left.
Manning said the money was later found in the personal safes of Huggins and Ortiz.
Defense attorneys in both trials claimed Estey orchestrated the incident to get around her own personal financial troubles.
Estey and her daughter were in court when the verdicts were read. She cried through most of the hearing and declined comment outside the courtroom.
A fourth defendant, Lisa Ramirez, was acquitted in an earlier trial.
Christopher Huggins and Robert Ortiz (pictured, left), both 27, were convicted of kidnapping for ransom, conspiracy to kidnap for robbery, robbery, robbery in concert and burglary for the November 2000 crime spree.
Most of the counts included allegations of use of a firearm and damage to property.
Huggins and Ortiz each face a maximum penalty of three life terms, plus 120 years, when they are sentenced Nov. 8.
Christopher Butler was convicted by another jury in July and could receive a similar prison term.
"For all practical purposes, they'll be extremely old men when they get out or they will never walk in the community again," Deputy District Attorney Thomas Manning said.
In his opening statement, Manning told jurors that Huggins, Ortiz and Butler broke into the home of Michelle Ramskill-Estey on Elevado Road in Vista, where she was playing video games with her 7-year-old daughter, Breea.
The defendants, according to Manning, had what they claimed was dynamite strapped to them. Estey's roommate supposedly was similarly booby-trapped when she arrived home.
Estey was forced into her bank branch on E. Bobier Drive, where she took $360,000, then left.
Manning said the money was later found in the personal safes of Huggins and Ortiz.
Defense attorneys in both trials claimed Estey orchestrated the incident to get around her own personal financial troubles.
Estey and her daughter were in court when the verdicts were read. She cried through most of the hearing and declined comment outside the courtroom.
A fourth defendant, Lisa Ramirez, was acquitted in an earlier trial.
Previous Stories:
- February 21, 2001: San Diego Fugitive Captured In Milwaukee
- December 8, 2000: Armed Robbers Hold Vista Bank Manager Hostage
- December 5, 2000: FBI Seeks Suspect In Vista Bank Robbery
- December 5, 2000: Day In Court For Three Accused Kidnappers, Robbers
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