Post Falls man sentenced for robbery
A 39-year-old Post Falls man pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree robbery and was sentenced to a year in prison for robbing a liquor store in Ellensburg, Wash., last November.
Jonathan Pena is also a person of interest in several business robberies in Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls around the same time.
The three Coeur d'Alene robberies were at the Liquor Store, 1607 Northwest Blvd.; Quality Inn, 280 W. Appleway Ave.; and Cenex Zip Trip, 1427 E. Best Ave. The first local business that was robbed in the string was Frontier Grocery, 2707 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls. The four robberies occurred within three days of each other last October.
While Pena has not been charged in the Coeur d'Alene robberies, an investigation continues.
Post Falls Police Capt. Greg McLean said detectives had no evidence to link Pena to the Frontier Grocery robbery to be charged.
On Nov. 5, 2015, Pena robbed the Liquor and Wine Store on Mountain View Avenue in Ellensburg. A surveillance video and tips were used to identify Pena, who wore a Halloween mask and designer jeans.
He was located in Coeur d’Alene. Ellensburg detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Pena, who was taken into custody by the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force and booked into the Kootenai County jail.
Pena pleaded guilty in Kittitas County (Washington) Superior Court to one count of second-degree robbery, which was reduced from the original charge of first-degree robbery. Second-degree robbery is considered a "most serious" offense. If Pena is convicted of two other most serious offenses in Washington, he will be given life in prison. Defense attorney Etoy Alford said Pena had no criminal history in Washington.
Alford said Pena was concerned about his mother-in-law because she was dying of cancer, and he was worried about making payments for the expensive treatments. Pena was on his way to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Nov. 5 when he made the side stop at the liquor store. Pena’s mother-in-law reportedly died of cancer a month ago.
"He did the wrong thing for the right reason," Alford said. "He’s accepting responsibility."
Pena apologized when Kittitas County Superior Court Judge Scott Sparks asked him if he wanted to comment, and said he became paralyzed on his way to Harborview.
"I apologize to the county, Ellensburg. My family situation is my first and foremost concern and I made some bad decisions," Pena said, adding he appreciated the hospitality of the corrections officers. "At this point I just need to move forward and accepting responsibility is the way to do it."
Sparks encouraged Pena to move forward and stay out of trouble and not to take matters into his own hands if he found himself in a similar situation.
"The situation you find yourself in — this is probably the lowest point in your life now," Sparks said. "Put it behind you."
Sparks told Pena there are lots of organizations to get in touch with should he need help financing medical treatment, and that next time that’s the route he should take.
Pena was fined $1,700 for various court fees. He will receive credit for the time he has already served and will be in community custody for 18 months upon release.
Pena has been found guilty of multiple misdemeanors in Idaho in the past on charges of battery, driving under the influence, driving without privileges, use or possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and battery. He was listed as wanted in Kootenai County this week for failure to appear for battery.
Pena will face charges for the local robberies separately if they are brought forward.
The suspect escaped with an undisclosed amount of money in all of the cases except at the Zip Trip, where the employee declined to hand over cash and walked to the back room.
The white male suspect in all of the cases is described as 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 and between 160 and 190 pounds. A scarf, bandana or mask was used to cover the man's face in all of the incidents. The only case in which a weapon was displayed was at the Quality Inn in which the suspect held a knife to his side.
Press staff writer Brian Walker contributed to this report.