On June 23 Zepeda, who wore disguises during his crimes, was sentenced to 66 years and four months in prison for nine counts of robbery and other charges related to three separate incidents that occurred in Ventura and Santa Paula in 2008 and 2009.
Zepeda’s trail was hot even before the Santa Paula Police Department saw the surveillance video of the January 2009 armed robbery of Vons grocery store, where he wore a white beard. Zepeda had committed a similar crime at Kmart on Faulkner Road in Santa Paula 11 years to the day before he robbed the West Main Street Vons, and investigators had already discussed facts of the latest incident that mirrored the previous armed robbery.
Sheriff’s officials said Zepeda was cleared for housing following a psychiatric evaluation given after his June 23 sentencing. “You can have all sorts of precautionary measures in place,” said VCSD Sgt. James Fryhoff, “but if someone’s really determined” they’ll find a way to harm themselves.
