Court case update: Co-defendant sentenced to 10 years in prison for 2017 Seal Beach home invasion

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Editor’s note: Court case numbers have been placed at the end of case summaries. If you want to follow a particular case, visit www.occourts.org.

Last week an Orange County judge sentenced a Costa Mesa man to 10 years in prison for his role in a 2017 home invasion in Seal Beach.

Aaron Michael Lipsey’s sentencing hearing concluded on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019.

Lipsey had failed to appear for his original Oct. 4 sentencing hearing and “firearms relinquishment hearing.”

His co-defendant Richard Henry Derderian, however, did not miss his sentencing date. He got five years and was sentenced earlier this year.

According to the Orange County Superior Court website, Lipsey was sentenced on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, to three counts of robbery in the first degree; as well as multiple “enhancements” for theft of more than $100,000 Burglary in the first degree; three counts of dissuading a witness by force; three counts of making criminal threats, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a illegal drug paraphernalia.

“Lipsey: The court imposed the high term of six years on count 1 and the 12022.6(a)(2) and 12022.1(b) enhancements of four years, making a total of ten years. This ten year offer was over my objection,” according to DDA Laila Nikaien.

“Derederian: the court arrived to the five year state prison offer by striking the 12022.6(a)(2) and 12022.1(b) enhancements. The court imposed the low term of three years on count 1 and the low term of two years on Count 4, making a total of five years. This five year offer was over my objection,” according to Nikaien.

On Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, Seal Beach Police detectives arrested Richard Henry Derderian, and Aaron Michael Lipsey, both described as Costa Mesa residents, in connection with the Aug. 21, 2017 robbery on the 1100 block of Seal Way.

On Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at approximately 4 p.m., two suspects broke into a home on the 1100 block of Seal Way in Seal Beach, according to an SBPD press release that was issued shortly after the event.

The three men who occupied the home were reportedly tied up and the suspects reportedly ransacked the home. According to the authorities, the suspects told the victims they had a gun, but no gun was ever seen. A safe was reported stolen.