A 20-year-old man who robbed a Chase Bank branch near Vancouver Mall in November was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison.
Ted W. Washington III of Vancouver pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to attempted first-degree robbery stemming from the Nov. 24 incident.
According to a probable cause affidavit, witnesses said a man, later identified as Washington, entered the bank at 8203 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive shortly after 1:30 p.m., stated that he had a gun and demanded money from a teller. The teller gave Washington $3,332, and he fled the building.
Police then received information that Washington entered the mall. Officers searched the mall and took Washington into custody inside one of the stores at about 2:30 p.m.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Deputy Prosecutor James Smith said the teller thought Washington was armed with a pistol, but one was never recovered.
Washington’s court-appointed defense attorney, Bob Vukanovich, said his client did not use a firearm in the commission of the crime.
He said Washington has a substance-abuse problem and believes that played a role in the robbery.
“I think he has learned this was a terrible decision on his part,” Vukanovich said.
Washington agreed it was a bad decision and apologized to the victims. “I understand the seriousness of it,” he said.
Judge Derek Vanderwood told Washington that because this is his second “strike” offense, he will have no leeway in the future. Washington was convicted in 2013 of drive-by shooting and was sentenced to 32 months. He was a juvenile at the time of the crime, court records show. Three “strike” offenses result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Vanderwood agreed to follow the attorneys’ sentencing recommendation and also sentenced Washington to 18 months of community custody. The prison sentence will run concurrent with a District Court matter. Washington was given credit for 113 days in custody.
