Grocery store robber gets chance at rehab

COEUR d’ALENE — A Post Falls man accused of robbing Jordan’s Grocery Store in March with a BB gun, netting about $600, may earn 15 years in prison if he fails a rehabilitation program.

Vincent K. Juarez, 18, who was charged with robbery, a felony, was sentenced in First District Court to 15 years in prison, comprised of a term of five years fixed and 10 years indeterminate.

District Judge Rich Christensen retained jurisdiction, allowing Juarez to attend a 365-day rider program, which assesses his amenability for probation. If he passes the program, he would be placed on probation.

Any law violations while on probation could result in imposition of the prison term.

Police said Juarez, who stands about 5-foot-4, has a goatee, and an alien tattoo on his left wrist, entered the grocery store around 10 p.m. March 11 on the 1000 block of 15th Street in Coeur d’Alene. He pointed what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol at the cashier demanding money.

Juarez wore skinny jeans, a hoodie and a bandana when he told the cashier, “This is a stick up. Give me the money,” according to a police report.

The cashier didn’t know if the teenager was serious, according to police. He then forcefully motioned to the cash register with the gun. Fearing for her well-being, the cashier opened and turned over the contents of the cash drawer to Juarez.

Police said Juarez made off with $584, and broke the store’s glass door as he fled the building.

In their investigation, Coeur d’Alene police collected video surveillance footage from Jordan’s and from nearby Taj grocery store, fingerprints and a vehicle description. Juarez was arrested in Post Falls without incident three days after the robbery, police said.

As part of their investigation police recovered the Daisy BB gun — a semi-automatic pistol lookalike — as well as the clothing Juarez wore during the stick up and marijuana he reportedly purchased with cash from the robbery.