MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — A 23-year-old man was sentenced Friday to more than 11 years behind bars for holding up a Mountlake Terrace marijuana store in November 2017.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Jones handed down the prison term Friday to Eric Woodberry, who was convicted in June of robbing Rainier Cannabis with another man.
Court records say the men, Woodberry and Bradford Johnson, entered the store just before closing time carrying a stolen rifle and a handgun, their faces covered by ski masks. They gave two employees plastic bags to fill with marijuana products and cash. The two fled through the back of the store with about $1,300 in cash and cannabis spilling from trash bags.
Authorities found and arrested the men in a nearby neighborhood after a two-hour search using police dogs. Woodberry was hiding in a boat with cash and marijuana products with the store’s label. His accomplice was caught running blocks away.
Shortly after, employees from Rainier Cannabis identified the two as the robbers.
Woodberry’s attorney Michael Nance sought the shortest possible sentence, 10 years, citing his client’s willingness to seek mental health treatment and vocational training, as well as his troubled childhood.
Citing emails Woodberry sent from prison, prosecutors argued he hasn’t showed any remorse for his actions and has a history of getting into trouble.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Jones said the robbery was, “a very aggressive, very violent action on (Woodberry’s) part,” according to a news release.
In the past Woodberry had been connected to three other robberies, but never charged: at a restaurant, another marijuana store and a Seattle home. In one of the cases, Woodberry was arrested for violating a no-contact order and giving a false name to police.
In the federal trial, Johnson was found guilty of robbery, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. His sentencing is set for November.
Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; jthompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.
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