A Long Beach man was sentenced Aug. 3 to eight years in county jail for a series of forcible theft and assault instances, according to Randall C. Fudge, assistant city prosecutor for Long Beach.
On at least nine occasions, the man found guilty, Steven Flint, 18, of Long Beach, rode his bicycle toward the victims and forcibly snatched their cellphones out of their hands, according to Fudge.
“This should serve as a strong message to serial criminals,” said Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert, whose office handled the case.
In total, Flint was charged with nine counts of misdemeanor battery, nine counts of theft and one count of fleeing from police.
“I especially want to commend the Long Beach Police Department for its thorough investigation of this string of thefts,” Haubert said. “The police saw a trend and devoted the resources necessary to investigate and put this case together. Nine victims were identified, and these were serious thefts, on the verge of being strong-armed robberies.”
When questioned by police, Flint admitted to the thefts and said he specifically targeted victims he felt were not paying attention. Police were able to locate nine victims, all of whom were female. The thefts occurred throughout Central and Downtown Long Beach, frequently at bus stops and crosswalks.
In one instance, Flint snatched the cellphone out of a woman’s hand while she was pushing her infant child in a stroller down Ocean Boulevard. In another instance, Flint ripped the cellphone out of a victim’s hand as she exited the Metro train platform at Long Beach Boulevard and First Street. The victim chased Flint, but ultimately fell to her knees in a praying position, distraught, as he fled by bike, according to Fudge.
According to one of Flint’s family members, Flint stole the cell phones to buy drugs. No drug charges were filed in this case, however.
“The investigation, and subsequent prosecution of this case, demonstrates the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Long Beach Police Department and the city prosecutor’s office,” said Police Chief Robert Luna.
Deputy City Prosecutor Stephanie Dowds handled the case in court.
“It was the repetitive nature of the defendant’s actions that was most disturbing,” Dowds said. “He targeted vulnerable pedestrians and victimized at least nine women between the months of March and June of 2016. He would have continued to do so if not caught by the Long Beach Police Department.”
Flint was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Halim Dhanidina.
Flint admitted to officers that he committed additional thefts, however, those victims have yet to be identified.
Those with information regarding cellphone thefts in Long Beach are asked to contact Long Beach Police Detective Benjamin Vargas at (562) 570-5538.
Source: LB City Prosecutor’s office
