Court date delayed for armed robbery suspect
Lang
1/19/19
A court date has been delayed for a Cedar Rapids man accused in an attempted armed robbery on Iowa City’s north side.
A case management conference for 20-year-old Keith Whittmon-Anderson had been scheduled for Friday. Court records show it has now been moved back to February 1st. His trial is still set for February 19th.
Whittmon-Anderson is charged with 1st Degree Robbery, Carrying Weapons, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He and 17-year-old Patrick Lucas, also of Cedar Rapids, are accused of approaching a man on North Gilbert Street early the morning of Aug. 1, with Lucas brandishing a handgun and demanding money. The would-be victim refused, and police say Whittmon-Anderson then took possession of the gun and tried to intimidate the man.
A physical struggle ensued and the victim fought off the two men, who allegedly fled to a vehicle driven by 20-year-old Sais Troche-Vargas of Cedar Rapids. Police located that vehicle a short time later, claiming to have found the gun and marijuana inside.
If convicted on all charges, Whittmon-Anderson faces up to 28 years in prison.
Under a plea deal reached last month, charges of 1st Degree Robbery and Possession of a Controlled Substance were dropped against Troche-Vargas. He was given a deferred judgment on a Conspiracy to Commit a Non-Forcible Felony charge and sentenced to three years of probation.
A $750 fine was also suspended.
Lucas was charged with 1st Degree Robbery and Carrying Weapons. However, he agreed to a plea deal on the robbery charge, pleading guilty to a reduced charge of 2nd Degree Robbery in exchange for avoiding jail, instead receiving a suspended $1,000 fine and three years’ probation.
The Carrying Weapons charge against Lucas – an aggravated misdemeanor – has been remanded to juvenile court.
