Two brothers made first appearances in Clark County Superior Court on Thursday after allegedly robbing a man of his cellphone at gunpoint.
Vadim Vasilchuk, 36, and Yuriy Vasilchuk, 40, both of Vancouver, were arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery in connection with the Tuesday night incident. Both men required an interpreter during their hearings.
Vadim Vasilchuk, who appeared to be indifferent to the proceedings, told Judge Daniel Stahnke that he doesn’t need a lawyer. Stahnke appointed attorney Megan Peyton to represent him anyway.
His older brother asked for a lawyer, but it was unclear if he actually qualified for court-appointed representation. Stahnke opted to appoint attorney Gregg Schile.
The alleged robbery was reported at 10:09 p.m., some time after the incident happened at 5000 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., a business complex.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court, Ryan Laubach, 37, told police he was walking in the area and a vehicle pulled up next to him. The driver asked to borrow his cellphone. Laubach said he agreed and handed over the phone. The driver, later identified as Yuriy Vasilchuk, then said he would be borrowing it for an hour, court documents said. When Laubach protested and asked for his phone back, Vadim Vasilchuk pointed a gun at him from the passenger’s seat and told him to step away from the car, the affidavit said.
Laubach said he backed away from the car in fear and the men took off, court records said.
Vancouver police searched the area for suspects but were unable to locate them. An employee at one of the businesses later reported that the suspects had returned to the address on Fourth Plain Boulevard, which is next to the police department’s east precinct. Officers pulled over the vehicle and arrested the brothers, Vancouver police Sgt. Kathy McNicholas said. Police did not recover a handgun, however.
Bail amounts vary
During their hearings on Thursday, Deputy Prosecutor Rebecca Ward said Vadim Vasilchuk has an extensive criminal history; his older brother apparently has only a misdemeanor conviction.
Judge Stahnke agreed to set Vadim Vasilchuk’s bail at $75,000 but said he thought that amount was too much for Yuriy Vasilchuk’s bail. He set the older brother’s bail at $40,000.
Vadim Vasilchuk is scheduled to be arraigned July 30. Yuriy Vasilchuk will be arraigned July 23.
