Tuesday December 19, 2006
Copperfield Crime-Watch:
Yesterday, Dwayne Riley of Palm Beach pled guilty to attempted robbery of illusionist David Copperfield. The defendant is the second of three to plead guilty. The formal charges were two counts of robbery for money taken at gunpoint from the magician's two assistants.
In addition, the teenager pleaded guilty on Monday to a single count of
attempted robbery of the famed entertainer -- nothing was actually taken from David Copperfield, who credited his magical prowess for making it seem as if he had nothing in his pants (even though there was a wallet, passport and cellphone on his person)
Copperfield, 50, turned both his pockets inside out to indicate he apparently possessed nothing. Earlier that evening, he finished a Kravis Center exhibition and was returning to the tour bus with the female assistants when the crimes were committed.
Copperfield's second helper fared worse losing $100, her cell phone, and 200 Euros -- worth an undisclosed amount. The observant and quick-thinking performer saw the air gun and managed to retain his phone, which aided in the capture of the three defendants just 10 minutes later.
The charges against the last defendant, Markeith Jones, are pending. As part of the plea deal, Dwayne Riley will testify against Jones if there is a trial. He was sentenced to time already served plus two years of probation for driving the getaway vehicle, according to prosecutor Sherri Collins.
The minor had only recently moved to Florida where he met his guilty half-brother, and will be returning to native Kentucky to serve out his probation period. Re-enactment videos of this breaking story and amazing feat will undoubtedly be showing up soon on YouTube and Copperfield.net
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