Armed robbery suspect makes first court appearance

A Corvallis, Ore., man who allegedly robbed two people at gunpoint after they responded to an online ad to buy a cellphone made a first appearance Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court.

Sean K. Andres-Delacruz, 20, appeared on suspicion of first-degree robbery in connection with the July 1 incident near a Hazel Dell sports complex. He was arrested on a warrant July 5 in Corvallis, Ore.

Clark County sheriff’s deputies were called to a robbery at about 7:20 p.m. that occurred in the 3800 block of Northeast 80th Street. One of the victims, Chris Sanchez, told deputies that he and his sister, Michelle Sanchez-Hernandez, contacted a man named “Marcus” on OfferUp.com, an app-based marketplace, to purchase a cellphone. Sanchez said they agreed to pay the man $500 at the meeting place to make the exchange, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Upon meeting, the man told Sanchez, “You robbed my sister.” Sanchez told the man he had never met his sister and was mistaken. The man then demanded Sanchez give him the money they brought, the affidavit states.

Sanchez said he told the man they would call the police and figure everything out. That’s when he lifted his sweatshirt and exposed a black pistol tucked into the waistband of his pants. Sanchez told his sister to give the man the money, and they drove away. Sanchez-Hernandez snapped a photo of the suspect before leaving, court records said.

After the suspect’s photo was released to the media, more than a half-dozen tipsters contacted investigators and identified the man as Andres-Delacruz. Several callers said Andres-Delacruz lives near Oregon State University in student housing but didn’t actually attend the school, according to court documents. His mother reportedly lives in Clark County.

During his hearing, bail was set at $50,000. He will be arraigned July 26.