A Washougal man pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday in Clark County Superior Court for using a hatchet to threaten a convenience store cashier during a robbery attempt.
Judge Robert Lewis sentenced Keki Kiril Silva-McKendree, 23, to 15 months in prison and 18 months community custody for second-degree robbery with a deadly weapon.
“That certainly was a very dangerous situation for you and for the person on the other side of the counter as well,” Lewis said.
Around 10:20 a.m. July 2, Silva-McKendree went into the 7 Market, 3520 N.E. Third Ave. in Camas, with a stolen purse and a hatchet in hand. He slammed the hatchet onto a glass display counter, causing it to shatter, and demanded money from clerk Nam Yang.
Yang, who had his hands up, repeatedly told him there was no money.
Silva-McKendree eventually left the store empty-handed and drove away in a red Chrysler Sebring. While the incident was unfolding, his mother called 911 to report that her son was having a mental health crisis and had left home in the Sebring.
Officers found the car near the Camas marina and after a search discovered Silva-McKendree hiding in some nearby bushes.
Defense attorney Susan Stauffer and prosecuting attorney Dan Gasperino agreed on the sentence range, taking into account the seriousness of what could have happened, Silva-McKendree’s issues with drug use, and his lack of prior felony charges.
“This is basically something that’s totally out of character for him,” Stauffer said.
Silva-McKendree originally faced charges of first-degree attempted robbery, methamphetamine possession, third-degree malicious mischief and third-degree possession of stolen property.
According to court records, Silva-McKendree was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and anxiety. As part of his sentence, Stauffer said his family would help him follow through with mental health and substance abuse treatment after prison. He will also have to pay for the glass display case he broke, and is barred from contacting Yang or going to the 7 Market.
