On Sept. 30, a 24-year-old Nebraska man pleaded guilty to a number of charges after he was accused of being involved in a string of robberies in Council Bluffs. A representative with the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office stated that he would spend a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
Detectives conducted surveillance at businesses they felt could become targets. At a Council Bluffs Walgreens, the man was reportedly seen entering the store wearing black clothing and black pantyhose over his head. He allegedly fled with an unknown amount of money after displaying a weapon to a cashier. He was later apprehended by authorities. Both the stolen money and a pellet gun were recovered from the man.
Police allege that the man is also connected to other robberies that occurred on June 22 and 24. Additionally, officers believe he was involved in burglaries in Omaha and Carter Lake. Reports say that he was also linked to a string of robberies that took place in late May at hotels and gas stations. According to court documents, the man allegedly admitted to committing the robberies due to financial troubles that he was experiencing.
Charges associated with theft crimes carry serious penalties, including a potentially lengthy prison sentence. In some cases, the severity of the penalties depends upon whether the person has already been convicted on previous charges or how much money was taken. A defense attorney may defend their client by disputing law enforcement’s validity of probable cause as well as the manner in which evidence was gathered. Otherwise, an attorney may negotiate a lighter sentence with the prosecution in exchange for a guilty plea.
Source: Omaha.com, “Bluffs 24-year-old reaches plea deal in string of robberies“, Mike Brownlee, October 01, 2014