June 2, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Man sentenced in robbery, sexual assault at Nordstrom Rack in Westchester

(Thinkstock: Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
(Thinkstock: Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

A man who sexually assaulted an employee during a takeover robbery at a Nordstrom Rack in Westchester, where some workers were ordered to strip down to their underwear, was sentenced Wednesday to 193 years to life in prison.

Raymond Sherman Jr., 36, of Los Angeles, was convicted last month of one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and kidnapping to commit another crime, along with 14 counts of second-degree robbery.

Jurors acquitted him on another rape charge involving the same victim.

Co-defendants Troy Marsay Hammock, 31, and Everett Oneal Allen, 26, both of Los Angeles, were convicted of 14 counts of second-degree robbery. Allen was also found guilty of one count of assault with a deadly weapon with a knife.

Hammock was sentenced today to 41 years in prison, while Allen was given 37 years by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ronald Coen.

In her closing argument, Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Barnes told the jury that the three men were “equally guilty” of the Jan. 10, 2013, robbery, which occurred as employees were leaving the store.

“Every one of them was terrified,” Barnes said of the employees, who were shown on surveillance videotape being led down a back hallway during the robbery at the store on the second floor of The Promenade.

Sherman — who had worked at the store years earlier — was the first one to go inside and was “probably the mastermind,” Barnes said.

Sherman raped and sexually assaulted one woman after separating her from the rest of the employees, most of whom had been ordered to “strip down to their underwear,” the prosecutor said.

Testifying in his own defense, Sherman acknowledged that he was involved in the robbery and was armed with a gun when he went into the store, but he claimed that the sexually assaulted victim was in on the plan so she could file a civil lawsuit.

He told jurors that the woman was the one who initiated oral sex and that he went along with it because he thought police had been called and that he would be going to jail.

“It wasn’t a rape,” he told jurors. “I would never rape anyone.”

Sherman testified that he was with two other men during the robbery and maintained that they were not Hammock and Allen. He told jurors that Allen is his brother.

Sherman’s attorney, Arthur Lindars, acknowledged that his client told police about 40 hours later that he had been involved in the robbery. But the defense attorney questioned the testimony of the sexual assault victim.

Hammock’s attorney, Lori A. Harris, said her client had “no connection” to the robbery other than being near the getaway vehicle hours after the heist.

“The prosecution hasn’t proved to you that Mr. Hammock was part of it,” she told the jury.

Allen’s attorney, Rodney Buck, also urged jurors to acquit his client.

Sherman, Hammock and Allen were arrested by Los Angeles police within a few days of the robbery, with Sherman being brought back from Phoenix, Arizona, where he was taken into custody. The three have remained in jail since then.

The employees were rescued by an LAPD SWAT team after one of the workers was able to call a relative, who notified authorities.

Related Posts

Alpine Floor & Home: A Legacy of Quality Since 1968

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Founded in 1968 with a single location, Alpine Floor & Home began as a humble family business with a clear...

Chin Chin to Close West Hollywood Location After 45 Years of Service

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Iconic Sunset Plaza Restaurant Announces Final Day of Operations Chin Chin, the iconic Chinese eatery that has been a fixture...

LACMA’s $700M David Geffen Galleries to Open in 2026

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

New Structure Will Replace Original Midcentury Buildings Construction crews are entering the final stretch on the David Geffen Galleries, a...

Criterion Mobile Closet Arrives in L.A. for Two-Day Stop at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

More Than 1,000 Classic Titles June 6–7 During American Cinematheque’s Bleak Week  Following its successful appearances at SXSW and Vidiots...

Lane Closures Return to PCH in Malibu for Fire Recovery and Emergency Repairs

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Traffic Will Be Impacted as Caltrans and the USACE Conduct Cleanup  The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced updated...

Police Non-Emergency Line Temporarily Down Due to Service Outage in Culver City

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Emergency 9-1-1 Services Remain Active; Alternate Numbers are Available  The Culver City Police Department has announced a temporary outage affecting...

Culver City to Frame Iconic Tree with Landmark Sculpture by Charles Gaines

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Acclaimed Conceptual Artist’s Public Artwork Enters Final Phase Culver City is moving forward with the final phase of an ambitious...

Defensible Space, Defined: How A Plus Tree Protects Communities from Wildfire

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

In the wildfire-prone landscapes of the Western United States, safeguarding homes and communities requires proactive measures. A Plus Tree, a...

WeHo Pride Weekend Begins and 2025 Icons Announced: Parades, Concerts, and Community Celebration Kicks Off

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

Three-Day LGBTQ+ Festival Features Performances by Lizzo, Maren Morris, and Kim Petras West Hollywood is preparing to kick off its...

Palisades Village to Reopen in 2026 with Revamped Retail, Dining, and Community Spaces

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Elysewalker Set to Return With Park Reconstruction, Holiday Events, and Streetscape Upgrades Palisades Village, the open-air shopping and lifestyle destination...

Bel Air Seventh Grader Reaches Finals of Scripps National Spelling Bee

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Oliver Halkett of Mirman School Competed on Thursday for a $50,000 prize Thirteen-year-old Oliver Halkett, a seventh grader from Mirman...

(Video) Signs That Your Aging Loved Ones Are in Need of Caregiving

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

To Find Out More, Go To Safelyhomeagain.com To Find Out More, Go To https://t.co/ZCPyKHj5aq pic.twitter.com/cDTEPjfA6s — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) May...

Two Men Charged in Culver City Kidnapping and Robbery After Victim Forced to Withdraw Cash

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Suspects Allegedly Abducted Man at Gunpoint, Drove Him to Multiple Banks  Two men have been arrested and formally charged in...

Salt & Straw Unveils Summer Pie Series with Five Seasonal Ice Cream Flavors

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Five New Flavors Inspired by Classic Summer Pies Will Be Introduced Salt & Straw is giving summer a scoopable twist...

(Video) Interviews with Rick Caruso and Elyse Walker, with a Dennis Quaid cameo

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

We spoke at the Press Conference to announce plans to reopen Palisades Village Shopping Mall. Actor Dennis Quaid arrives to...