Posted on 04/22/2002 7:49:52 AM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
National manhunt on for Seattle teen in Snohomish robbery
By Scott North Herald Writer
A Seattle teen who is charged with first-degree robbery in connection with a violent April 12 holdup of a Snohomish jewelry store is now the focus of a nationwide manhunt.
Adrian E. Gordon, 18, who was shot during the holdup and later set free on bail, has left his home and broken off contact with his attorney, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Mark Roe said Sunday.
"I don't know for certain that he is running, but it sure looks that way," Roe said.
Gordon and co-defendant Carlo A. Torrejon, 17, are Seattle high school students. The pair were charged as adults Thursday because of the seriousness of the allegations.
Prosecutors allege the teens took more than $15,000 in merchandise from Sachi Fine Jewelry. The robbers brandished a loaded handgun, beat the owner with a hammer, and incapacitated other witnesses with pepper spray.
Gordon was captured when he allegedly crashed the getaway car not long after being shot in the arm by a bystander who tried to stop the robbers as they were leaving the jewelry store.
After being briefly jailed, the teen was released on $70,000 bail, meaning his family had only to raise one-tenth that amount to secure Gordon's freedom through contracting with a bonding company. Roe on Thursday asked the court to increase that to $100,000 cash-only bail, a move that would have tied up more than 10 times as much of the defendant's family's money.
The prosecutor said he took the step, in part, because Gordon's attorney alerted him Thursday he could no longer guarantee the teen would appear in court. Roe emphasized that the defense attorney was disappointed and had in no way assisted in the teen's potential flight.
Snohomish police went to the teen's home after an arrest warrant was signed on Thursday, but Gordon's mother told officers he'd left, and she didn't know where he'd gone, Roe said.
A warrant for Gordon's arrest is now being circulated by police nationwide, the prosecutor said. In court papers, he noted that Gordon has frequently traveled to Europe.
Gordon's co-defendant, Torrejon, was ordered jailed in lieu of $100,000 cash-only bail. He is a native of Peru, who has lived in the U.S. for the past dozen years.
The teens face more than eight-year prison terms if convicted.
2 charged in violent robbery
Citizen who fired at robbery suspects may be in trouble
Jeweler recalls minutes of Terror
Police identify second robbery suspect (update to passerby shoots robbery suspect)
Good thread Ern ! Stay Safe !
A local man who was about the same age, and the son of an lawyer, skipped bail on a manslaughter charge several months ago and hasn't turned up yet. With a little 'help' from friends, these guys can stay lost for a long time. And what have they got to lose? When they're apprehended, years from now, the flight charge won't amount to squat.
I'm not real sure how this works, but if the family can get him sprung and out of the country for only $7K , that sounds like a pretty good deal for them. A lawyer would cost $10K minimum ; A trial twice that, probably -- I'll guess they just told him to 'get out of Dodge' . . .
Got any pictures or details about his background?
$100,000 cash-only bail,
That means they have to come up with 100,000 cash. A $100,000 bondable bail means you come up with $10,000 cash and something worth $80,000 like a house to "guarantee" the rest. If the person doesn't show, you either have a bail agent find them or you come up with the cash or repo/sell the house to pay the $80,000.
I hope that clears it up.
Of course going to prison will take care of that so maybe he's smart to run?
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