EVERETT — The 17-year-old said it looked easy on TV, so he thought he’d give it a try.
Nearly two months later he remained behind bars, charged with first-degree robbery. Prosecutors allege that the teen and his 15-year-old brother turned a beer run into a painful attack on a convenience store clerk.
The teens reportedly stole three bottles of beer and sprayed the clerk with powerful mace intended to ward off bear attacks.
The woman was covered in the pepper spray when a witness found her. She was crying and asking for someone to help stop the burning to her face.
The younger brother recently pleaded guilty in juvenile court to second-degree robbery. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Linda Krese agreed not impose any more detention for the boy. He’d served two months. He’ll be on probation for a year. The teen also underwent a drug and alcohol evaluation. He had no prior criminal history.
The 17-year-old told police that his brother agreed to shoplift beer but changed his mind when they got to the Everett store, according to court papers.
Snohomish County prosecutor Craig Matheson charged the older brother as an adult. He turns 18 in January. His trial is scheduled for next month.
The clerk told police that on Sept. 29 two juveniles came into the Lucky Mart on Evergreen Way. She saw them grab some beer. As soon as she confronted them one of the boys sprayed her with the bear mace. They ran out of the store with the beer.
A customer walking into the store saw the boys fleeing. He tried to comfort the clerk and called 911.
Everett police found the teens nearby. The older boy was wearing a backpack. It contained two bottles of beer and a large can of bear mace. The beer matched a bottle dropped in the street near the store.
Officers asked the 17-year-old why he committed the crime. He allegedly said he’d seen it done on TV many times and it looked easy so he thought he’d try, Matheson wrote.
The teen was being held on $50,000 bail.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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