Two men who held up five tourists in Pacific Beach, and one who held up a La Jolla woman by himself, both pleaded guilty Thursday to all charges.
Ephraim Jacob Byers, 21, faces the longest term of 21 years and six months in prison because he admitted to personally using a gun when he held up the La Jolla woman on Coast Boulevard on May 12 at night.
Deputy District Attorney Lucy Yturralde said the gun allegation against Byers carries a 10-year prison term which is why his sentence is the longest. Kyle James Holland, 20, faces 11 years in prison, she said. Both men also pleaded guilty to making a criminal threat to one victim.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Groch set sentencing for Feb. 15 in the new courthouse at 1100 Union Street. Both men remain in jail.
Byers also pleaded guilty to petty theft in an incident at a Pacific Beach business in which an employee’s I-phone was stolen last March. The petty theft charge adds six months to the sentence.
Both Byers and Holland were identified by most of the witnesses in a preliminary hearing on Oct. 19.
Three women who were vacationing together from Arizona and a couple also from Arizona were held up in two incidents in Pacific Beach in which their cell phones and other items were taken.
Lisa Garris testified she and her husband were robbed at 2 a.m. July 24 after they left a Pacific Beach bar while they were vacationing here from Arizona.
“Two guys jumped out of the darkness with a knife,” said Garris.
Detective Stephanie Audette testified she interviewed Holland after his July 24 arrest and he told her he “was acting as a lookout.” She said Holland admitted Byers gave him some money for helping him in the hold-ups.