Posted in Felonies on November 21, 2014
Marie A. Berry, 35, has been sentenced to over five years in prison after pleading guilty to several commercial robberies in the last year. The Vancouver woman robbed seven businesses in April and June – two banks, two gas stations, a restaurant, a tanning salon and a department store. She pleaded guilty to the felony charges of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. In exchange, the deputy prosecutor dismissed six counts of first-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree theft.
Most recently, Berry went into Columbia Bank on N.E. 117th Ave. in Vancouver at about 3:30 p.m. on June 26. She approached the counter and passed a note to the teller that read “Do not alert anyone, no cops. Five minutes. No bait money. One minute. Big bills first.” She allegedly fled with $2,225 in cash and stole a microcar to flee in. According to court records, on June 6 Berry presented a note demanding money at a Shell gas station on Andresen Road and implied that she had a weapon, though she did not show one. She reportedly left with $58.
She apparently used similar methods to rob a Tan Republic salon on June 4, a People’s Credit Union on April 27, a Pizza Hut on April 14, a Kohl’s on April 11, and another Shell gas station on April 5. Court records indicate that Berry was captured on surveillance video while casing other banks within 30 minutes of robbing Columbia bank. A witness overheard Berry speaking about the People’s Credit Union robbery.
Berry’s Vancouver defense attorney said that she did not have a criminal history before the robberies and that a methamphetamine addiction had driven her actions.
Source: The Columbian, “Serial robber gets five-year term,” Paris Achen, November 21, 2014.
The post Vancouver Woman Sentenced for Robberies appeared first on LawBlogVancouver.