Robbery suspect in court

A Los Angeles man implicated in a violent home invasion robbery last year in Newport Beach is scheduled to be arraigned today on kidnapping, robbery, assault and conspiracy charges.

Ronnie Labert Morrissette, 34, was arrested by Brooklyn, Ill., police May 18 for a separate incident. Officers discovered there was a $1-million warrant for his arrest. He was taken into Newport Beach police custody Monday and is being held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $1.1 million bail.

Morrissette was one of two men who initially escaped police following a Dec. 8 home-invasion robbery of subprime lender Daniel Sadek's exclusive Newport Coast mansion. Sadek was the founder of mortgage lender Quick Loan Funding Corp., which collapsed in 2007.

The second man, Darrin Mucker, 38, of Los Angeles, was arrested Feb. 5 by U.S. marshals in Oklahoma City. He was extradited to Newport Beach last month and has since pleaded not guilty to robbery and kidnapping charges.

Police said Morrissette, Mucker and Mickael Andre Hastings, 36, of Los Angeles, forced their way into Sadek's home with guns drawn. They were alleged to have tied up nine people inside and beat them with the butts of their guns. The men stole watches, wallets, cell phones and cash, according to police.

One of the victims managed to escape and call authorities, who quickly descended on the area and arrested Hastings, Antoine Boyd, 31, and Peter Paturzo, 44, who were acting as lookouts and getaway drivers, police said.

Everyone except Morrissette has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and robbery charges.