Woman Sentenced to 30-Year Prison Term in Van Nuys for Shooting at Police

A woman who fired at police during a pursuit in the San Fernando Valley last October that ended with an accomplice's death, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Leslie A. Dunn imposed the term on Vanessa Acosta, 27, who pleaded no contest Aug. 15 to two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a peace officer and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Acosta opened fire on Los Angeles police after officers tried to pull over a car in which she was a passenger, according to Deputy District Attorney Frank Tavelman.

Police tried to stop the car after the driver ran two red lights and nearly struck a bicyclist on Oct. 17, 2012, according to the prosecutor.

"Unfortunately, this is something we're seeing more and more -- violent attacks on police," the prosecutor said. "And this is just another example of the dangers police are currently facing."

Police chased the car from the LAPD's Mission Division to the area of Vanowen and Firmament streets in Van Nuys, where the vehicle smashed into a wall.

The car's driver, 22-year-old Steve Rombeau of Van Nuys, was shot to death by police after arming himself with a gun after the crash, according to police.

Acosta, who suffered a superficial arm wound, was arrested at the scene after police ordered her out of the Nissan Sentra.

No officers were injured.

As a result of her plea, three other charges against Acosta were dismissed -- a murder count stemming from Rombeau's death and two counts of attempted murder of a police officer.

—from City News Service reports