A transient man who burglarized a Felida convenience store, stole thousands of dollars in tobacco products and then led deputies on a high-speed chase was sentenced Friday to five years in prison.
Cody I. Christianson, 38, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, second-degree malicious mischief, first-degree criminal trespass and possessing a stolen motor vehicle, court records show.
An additional 330-day sentence on the criminal trespass conviction was suspended for two years.
At about 3:15 a.m. July 9, Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported burglary in progress at Quick Shop Minit Mart, 12604 N.W. 36th Ave. One deputy attempted to stop a gold Honda at the store, but it fled and a brief pursuit ensued. The pursuit was called off for safety reasons, but the suspect kept speeding, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Minutes later, another deputy saw the same vehicle traveling more than 90 mph eastbound on Northeast 99th Street. The vehicle crossed Highway 99 against a red light and the driver lost control after the Honda went airborne. It crashed into a power pole and rolled onto its side, spilling $2,000 to $3,000 worth of cigarette packs and chewing tobacco cans, the affidavit states.
The driver, identified as Christianson, jumped onto the overturned car, hopped a 6-foot fence, and ran. A deputy took Christianson into custody after he was unable to escape the fenced area, court records said.
A deputy who responded to the store said the front glass door was smashed and estimated the damage to be worth about $1,000. Video surveillance showed the burglar, who was wearing a white hockey mask, scooping tobacco products into a large plastic tub, according to court documents. The mask was found with Christianson’s vehicle. The Honda was stolen from the Kelso area, the affidavit said.
In addition to his sentence, Christianson is banned from the Felida store.
