Patterson man gets 125 years in prison for series of robberies

A 39-year-old Patterson man has been sentenced to 125 years to life in prison for committing a series of robberies in 2014. His sentence included additional prison time for having previous robbery convictions.

Superior Court Judge Nancy Ashley last week sentenced David Lee McDaniel III, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.

A jury on March 13 found McDaniel guilty of nine counts of robbery. Deputy District Attorney Mabel Lew prosecuted the case.

Prosecutors said McDaniel had been on parole for 10 months when he began the crime spree in Patterson two years ago. The robberies occurred at businesses in Patterson and Westley from June through October 2014.

Stanislaus County sheriff’s officials have said the first robbery was a holdup at a Papa Murphy’s Pizza on June 7. The other incidents included a McDonald’s restaurant on June 11, a CVS pharmacy on July 14, a Metro PCS store on July 25, an Auto Zone store on Aug. 19 and a Subway restaurant in Westley on Oct. 18.

McDaniel wore a bandanna over his face, a hooded sweatshirt and gloves during the robberies, according to prosecutors. He reportedly kept one hand in his pocket as if he had a weapon.

Security cameras recorded video of the robberies, but the victims and witnesses could not identify McDaniel in a photo line-up. Prosecutors said McDaniel’s neighbor gave a tip to law enforcement official.

Investigators reviewed McDaniel’s criminal background and learned that McDaniel had been on parole since August 2013. They also learned that McDaniel had not told his parole agent about his current address, which was close to the robbed businesses.

The investigators searched McDaniel’s house in the 500 block of D Street and his vehicle. They found two pairs of distinctive shoes along with clothing items identical to what was worn by the robber, according to prosecutors.

McDaniel was convicted of two robberies in 2003 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. These prior convictions made McDaniel eligible for a life sentence in his robbery case under the state’s “Three Strikes” law.

McDaniel remains at the Stanislaus County Jail awaiting transfer to a prison. He has been held at the jail since Oct. 31, 2014.

This story was originally published May 22, 2017 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Patterson man gets 125 years in prison for series of robberies."