LAPD Officer’s Son Guilty in Robberies

A Los Angeles police officer’s son, accused of staging two 1993 bank robberies by taking women managers hostage at their homes and then forcing them to open bank vaults the next morning, was convicted Tuesday on multiple robbery, weapons and kidnapping charges.

Brett Pelch, 28, a burly former nightclub bouncer described by prosecutors as the “enforcer” in the robberies, exchanged looks with his brother, Chad, as jurors returned the last of several guilty verdicts against him.

He will be sentenced on May 29.

The jury, meanwhile, continued to deliberate the guilt or innocence of Chad Pelch, 25, and Alex Yepes, 28, who prosecutors said masterminded the robberies.

A gag order prevented attorneys from commenting.

Jurors already have found Yepes guilty of lying about his identity on a driver’s license application. In 1994, a jury acquitted Yepes of federal bank robbery charges.

While Yepes fought the charges in U.S. District Court, Brett Pelch was a fugitive for two years. He was arrested while driving near Monterey a month after being featured on the TV show “America’s Most Wanted.”

He was convicted for his role in bank robberies that occurred in June and September of 1993 in Canyon Country and Northridge.

His father, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Dennis Pelch, was suspended for 33 days for helping his son avoid arrest.