Local woman facing trial in drive-by theft of sword

GLENDORA -- A former San Dimas man learned the hard way that theshort barrel of a handgun is mightier than the long blade of areplica sword favored by many swashbucklers during the Middle Ages.

When a man pointed a blue-steel revolver at Steven Petersen inGlendora on July 26 and demanded he hand over the 50-inch Flambergesword delivered to him the day before, he did not have time to evensay "en garde.'

He got the point and complied.

"I didn't want to get shot,' Petersen said.

Glendora police would later use the long arm of the law to try toget the suspects to say "touche.' They arrested Amy Beth Lewis, 23,of West Covina on July 27. She is charged with two counts of robberyand one count of being an accessory after the fact.

The alleged getaway car driver, she is in jail on $100,500 bailand is awaiting an Oct. 12 preliminary hearing at West Covina BranchSuperior Court. But her lawyer is skeptical of the allegations.

"I have a difficult time believing she did what they say she did,'attorney Donald Stansbarger said.

Lewis allegedly lured Petersen and his friend, Donald Hansen, 18,of Glendora over to the car she was driving so her armed companion inthe rear seat, Jesse Becerra, could steal the weapon, Glendora policeDetective Chris Stabio said.

"It's a very unique item to be taken in a robbery,' Stabio said.

Becerra, 33, of Azusa is charged with two counts of robbery. Awarrant has been issued for his arrest.

Unlike many stolen items that end up for sale at swap meets andelsewhere, the sword may still be with Becerra, Stabio said.

"It may have appealed to him and he would want to keep it,' Stabiosaid.

The Flamberge sword is a stylish weapon with a squiggly bladeabout 45 inches long and a weight of about 7 pounds, according to theInternet site www.long-sword.com . The shape of the blade was meantto help in the penetration of body armor.

The sword derives its name from a German word meaning "flaming'and from the French word, "flamboyant,' the site stated. The weaponwas popular among many European soldiers between the 15th and 17thcenturies, especially among Swiss mercenaries and Germans.

Even Charlemagne had a version of the weapon in the 8th century,according to various Internet site biographies of the man consideredby historians to be the greatest of medieval kings.

Petersen already had a smaller sword when he bought the Flambergefor $150 on eBay, he said.

"I'm into medieval sites and video games,' Petersen said.

The day of the theft, Petersen rode his bicycle to Hansen's hometo show him the sword, he said. They decided to walk together thethree to four miles back to Petersen's home.

They were near a real estate office parking lot in the 1100 blockof Route 66 about 7 p.m. when Lewis allegedly drove up to them andasked if the sword was real, according to court records.

Hansen, who was carrying the weapon, handed it to Petersen so hecould take it out of the sheath and show Lewis. The man in the backseat then pulled a gun and ordered Petersen to put the sword in thecar, or he would shoot Hansen, the records indicated.

"It happened in broad daylight,' Petersen said.

Hansen identified Lewis in police photographs, according to courtrecords. Petersen, now of Hesperia, said he would like to have thesword back. But now that more than two months have passed since itwas taken, he said he has to be realistic.

"I'll probably have to get another one,' Petersen said.

-- Bill Hetherman can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2236, orby e-mail at bill.hetherman@sgvn.com .