Men face charges for alleged heist attempt...

Men face charges for alleged heist attempt

Prosecutors on Friday filed charges against three Los Angeles men

who made a botched robbery attempt at a Corona del Mar jeweler this

week.

Herbert Nelson Kirkwood, 31, Dominic Edwards, 32, and Kenney

Dwayne Watkins, 27, face multiple robbery charges in connection with

the attempted robbery on Wednesday of Jewels by Joseph at Corona del

Mar Plaza. Newport Beach Police arrested all three men after the

incident.

The store had hosted the 13.4-carat, $2.3-million American Star

diamond the previous weekend, but it was not in the store at the time

of the attempted robbery.

Watkins hid inside the ceiling of an adjacent gelato store for

nearly two hours before officers coaxed him out, police said.

The three men made off with $1 million in jewels, according to a

complaint filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s office. The

court papers identify the men as gang members.

They also face charges of attempted carjacking for trying to get

the car keys of a nearby gelato store employee and for possession of

a firearm by a felon.

All are being held on $1 million bail, District Attorney spokesman

Mark Macaulay said. Kirkwood and Watkins are subject to a parole

hold, according to police.

All three have previous felony convictions, according to court

papers.

Their arraignment was rescheduled for Nov. 10.