Jury acquits man of robbery, battery charges in wine theft

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Kern County jury on Wednesday acquitted a man of robbery and battery charges filed in connection with the theft of two bottles of wine from an Albertsons in Bakersfield.

Jose Antonio Lopez had faced more than 30 years to life in prison because of prior convictions, according to a release from the Public Defender’s Office.

He was instead sentenced to 209 days time served after the jury found him guilty of misdemeanor petty theft and resisting judgment.

Chief Deputy Public Defender Teryl Wakeman, Lopez’s attorney, said in an email the evidence supported the charges of which Lopez was convicted — but wasn’t enough to raise the petty theft count to robbery, or justify the battery charge.

“We’re deeply grateful to the jury for accurately assessing the evidence and acting accordingly,” he said.

On July 18, 2024, Lopez grabbed two bottles of wine at the Albertsons on Brundage Lane and tried to leave without paying. He allegedly pushed a store employee who confronted him and ran when police arrived.

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