previously convicted of impersonating a police officer and stealing a patrol car, who was caught posing as a firefighter at the Lake fire camp in June, has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor impersonation charge, according to court records. googleoff: allgoogleon: all
When arrested June 27, David Anthony Battle, 45, of San Bernardino possessed a stolen gun inside a stolen vehicle. He pleaded no contest in a plea agreement to those felony charges as well in San Bernardino County Superior Court on Thursday. googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Judge Richard V. Peel, who at a previous hearing had offered a five-year prison sentence in a plea agreement if Battle admitted to the charges, imposed the sentence. A felony receiving stolen property charge also was reduced to a misdemeanor.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
The Lake fire was sparked June 17 near Barton Flats in the San Bernardino Mountains and spread east and northwest into the San Gorgonio Wilderness growing to more than 39,300 acres.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies spotted Battle on June 27 driving a white Ford Crown Victoria, once used as a patrol car, in a closed-off area, officials said at the time. googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Dressed in a firefighter’s uniform, he claimed he was trying to locate a fire crew. He left the area but was spotted later at the firefighters’ base camp at Big Bear High School. The vehicle and its California exempt license plates had been stolen in separate incidents.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
He has spent multiple stints in state prison in cases dating back to 1998, according to court records. googleoff: allgoogleon: all
In March 2014, he was sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to enroll in a drug treatment program after he pleaded guilty to grand theft auto in the taking of an unmarked police car from a San Bernardino City Hall parking garage. The car was taken a week after he was released from prison in a prior case.googleoff: all
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