Subway restaurants robber gets five-year prison sentence

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 24, 2017

EVERETT — A six-week crime spree in Marysville has landed a 22-year-old Tulalip man behind bars.

Dakota Rogers didn’t have any felony convictions when he walked into a Subway sandwich shop Feb. 22 armed with a knife. The young man demanded money from the woman behind the counter. He made off with no more than $40 in cash.

He pulled off a similar heist at a different Subway three weeks later, flashing a knife and scooping up a nominal amount of money an employee threw on the counter.

Marysville police caught up with Rogers in early April when he attempted to rob a man at a drive-up ATM on Fourth Street. This time, Rogers was armed with a gun. The victim remembered Rogers saying, “I will shoot you if you don’t give me money,” according to court papers.

Rogers later told detectives that he was dope sick. Police also discovered the firearm was a realistic-looking BB gun.

A judge Tuesday sentenced Rogers to five years in prison for two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of attempted first-degree robbery.

He was ordered to undergo an evaluation for substance abuse. Under questioning by Superior Court Judge Bruce Weiss, Rogers admitted his drug of choice has been heroin. He also said he started using drugs when he was 16. He underwent treatment about two years ago.

Weiss said he was puzzled how Rogers, given his drug use, hadn’t racked up any felon convictions until now. He recommended Rogers get to the bottom of why he’s been using, especially if it’s related to any childhood trauma. He could end up fighting an addiction the rest of his life if he doesn’t address those issues, Weiss said.

Two things, the judge said, could hinder a chance at sobriety: the friends Rogers keeps and what he does with his time.

“You’re a young guy. You have your whole life ahead of you,” Weiss said.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.