EVERETT — The jury was picked but the defendant changed his mind.
Eddie Sheldon, 56, decided he didn’t want to risk a potential life sentence so Tuesday morning he pleaded guilty to reduced charges for a robbery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
“The victim was extremely traumatized. I was worried about further traumatizing her by having her face the defendant in court,” Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Bob Langbehn said.
Sheldon and another man were accused of holding knives and a hatchet to the woman while they robbed her of stolen gems. The men also threatened to kill the woman’s son and to rape her if she went to police, court papers said.
The woman had set up a meeting with the men to off-load some ill-gotten gems. Her boyfriend had stolen a car that contained $300,000 worth of precious jewels. The car and the gems belonged to a traveling salesman, who was getting ready to leave an Everett hotel when his car was taken.
Sheldon was first charged with robbery for the January heist. He has previous rape and assault charges. That meant a robbery conviction would have sent him to prison for life under the state’s three strikes law.
Langbehn on Monday piled on additional charges, including other strike offenses.
The jury was expecting to hear from the first witnesses Tuesday morning. Sheldon instead pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and residential burglary. Those are not strike offenses.
“He’s 56 and a 10-year sentence will ensure the safety of the victim and society for quite some time,” Langbehn said.
Sheldon’s previous rape conviction could add more time to his prison stay. He will have to convince the state’s Indeterminate Sentence Review Board that he’s no longer a danger to the community. He has been sent back to prison at least three times for violating the terms of his release, according to court records.
The gem heist remains an active investigation as police attempt to recover all of the jewels. Others face potential charges in connection with the theft.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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