Biography

LOS ANGELES, April 12: "A 71-year-old retired actor was sentenced today to 16 years to life in state prison on conviction of second-degree murder for running over a man several times with his car after a traffic dispute. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Suzukawa imposed the maximum sentence on Robert Weldon Cleaves, who will be eligible for parole in 13 years. An Airport Branch Courthouse jury convicted the Venice man last month of second-degree murder and the allegation that he used a deadly weapon - his car - in the Sept. 30, 1998, killing of Arnold William Guerriero."

Cleaves, appeared on "Dragnet", "Brett Maverick", "The Streets of San Francisco" and other television shows, followed Arnold William Guerriero in his car in September 1998 after they exchanged insults during a traffic confrontation in Santa Monica.

The Superior Court jury, which considered charges ranging from first-degree murder to vehicular manslaughter, convicted Robert Weldon Cleaves on Thursday March 23rd 2000 after five days of deliberations. He faces up 16 years to life in prison when he is sentenced April 12, 2000.

After Guerriero, 38, got out of his car, Cleaves ran over him, dragging him about 350 feet, then backed up and ran over Guerriero again. Guerriero died later at a hospital.

Cleaves surrendered to police soon after the attack. He testified that he accidentally struck Guerriero after the man pointed a gun at him. No gun was ever found.