‘Central Coast Bandit’ sentenced to 16 years
The San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s office announced yesterday that Superior Court Judge John Trice sentenced ‘Central Coast Bandit’ Cristina Fernandez Padilla to state prison for 16 years for a series of bank robberies that occurred between February and August of 2013.
Cristina Fernandez Padilla, 50, of Watsonville, Calif.
Because some of the crimes of which she has been convicted are “violent strikes” her conduct credits, a sentence reduction system given to prisoners who maintain good behavior while imprisoned, will be limited to 15 percent.
According to the D.A., it is anticipated that she will be sentenced to two more years in Monterey County, and two more years in Stanislaus County, for a total term of 20 years.
Padilla, 50, of Watsonville Calif., known as the ‘Central Coast Bandit” had pled no contest in January to all of the charges including four counts of robbery, an attempted robbery, one count of second degree commercial burglary, one count of evading a peace officer, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon. She also admitted having been convicted of a “strike” prior based on a First Degree Burglary conviction in Monterey County in 2005, the D.A.’s office reports.
Robberies linked to The Central Coast Bandit
• December 31, 2012: Monterey Credit Union at 161 Fountain St., Pacific Grove, Monterey County
• February 14, 2013: Pacific Western 7035 at El Camino Real, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County
• February 14, 2013: Chase at 8055 El Camino Real, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County (casing only)
• June 27, 2013: Coast Hills Federal Credit Union at 532 W. Tefft St., Nipomo, San Luis Obispo County
• July 16, 2013: Golden One Federal Credit Union at 128 Niblick St., Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County
• July 18, 2013: Farmers Merchants at 1700 McHenry Ave., Modesto, Stanislaus County
• August 14, 2013: Pacific Western Bank at 831 Oak Park Blvd., Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo
