Lewiston man convicted on robbery at Hood residence

A superior court jury of nine women and three men Tuesday convicted Michael Thompson, Lewiston, of pulling Larry D. Hood out of his pickup in the early morning hours of April 22, 2010, and robbing him of more the $2,500. The jury returned the verdict on charges of robbery and second-degree theft less than an hour after getting the case for deliberation.

Thompson, now 21, was remanded to custody of the jail and Judge David Frazier set his sentencing date for Jan. 13. Deliberation began at 10:07 a.m. Tuesday.

Hood was the last witness to testify before the state concluded its case Monday at 4 p.m. Defense Attorney Roxanne Kritzer told the court the defense would not present evidence.

Hood told how he was pulled out of the driver’s seat of his pickup truck as he was about to depart for Lewiston. He said he was forced down on his back in his paved driveway and instinctively reached to protect his wallet, but gave up the struggle when his assailant said “Don’t make me kill you old man.” Hood said he was 70 at the time of the robbery.

Hood said he was unable to get a look at his assailant. He said after the robbery he got back into his pickup truck and unsuccessfully attempted to get a look at the assailant by using his truck’s headlights. Hood said he had 24 $100 bills in his wallet plus $106 in other bills. He said he was departing his residence at about 1:10 a.m. to start his early morning routine of having a soft drink at a night club in Lewiston and then proceeding to the Clearwater Casino.

He sustained a cut elbow and a bruised hip in the assault. The elbow wound did not require stitches.

Preceding Hood on the witness stand was Heather Sitko of Lewiston. She testified she called Pullman Police after hearing Thompson tell about the robbery at Airport Park in Lewiston in May of 2010. Sitko said Thompson appeared to be bragging about taking money from an elderly man in the Pullman area.

In the state’s final argument Tuesday morning, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Byron Bederian said Hood was violated that morning and the specifics of the case met the requirements for a state conviction on the robbery and theft charges. He pointed out the testimony of co-conspirators who said Thompson was the one who sought out a car to travel from Lewiston to Hood’s house. He said the evidence showed Thompson knew Hood’s routine and gave instructions when the group stopped and Thompson and another member of the group got out of the car.

He also pointed out Thompson handed out $100 bills to the participants when he met up with the other participants at Pullman.

Kritzer in her final argument asked the jury to consider the lack of hard evidence in the case. She pointed out the absence of eye witnesses or identification of Thompson by Hood, and the absence of Hood’s stolen wallet. None of the witnesses actually saw Thompson with the missing $2,500, Kritzer pointed out.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Bill Druffel opened the state’s case Monday by quoting the “don’t make me kill you old man” threat related by Hood.

Kritzer urged jurors to listen for inconsistencies in the evidence and consider the lack of eye witnesses to the actual robbery.

Druffel called the four other participants who departed Lewiston late April 21 and headed for Hood’s residence along Highway 195 south of Pullman.

First witnesses in the state’s case was Deputy Paul Reavis who met with Hood at the Pullman Police station that morning. He identified photos of Hood’s injured left elbow and what he believed were blood stains on Hood’s driveway.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Chapman, who took over the case from Reavis, testified on his interviews with the other four participants in the case. Sgt. Chapman said all four said they were present that morning and identified Thompson as being present.

Last of the participants to testify Monday was Skylar Nobbley who was the subject of an arrest warrant issued last week when Prosecutor Denis Tracy filed a new charge of robbery against him. Nobbley was arrested and held on $50,000 bond.

Prosecutor Tracy said the state had lost contact with Nobbley after he agreed earlier to testify at Thompson’s trial as part of a plea bargain. Nobbley was sentenced Oct. 28 to 60 days in jail after he admitted a reduced charge of second degree theft.

Nobbley, who admitted he didn’t want to testify against Thompson, again Monday admitted to serving as a lookout after he and Thompson were dropped off at a grain elevator along Highway 195 north of the Hood residence. Nobbley’s testimony, however, varied from the other three participants. He said a another member of the group also got out of the car at the grain elevator and walked toward Hood’s residence.

The other witnesses said Thompson and Nobbley got out of the car at the grain elevator and the other three drove into Pullman and met up with the two at the Pullman Cinemas after a lengthly wait. Thompson distributed the $100 bills as payment for their participation in the crime.

Also testifying was James M. Poesy who was sentenced last week to 364 days in jail after Judge David Frazier rejected a plea bargain agreeement. Poesy, in a sometimes emotional stint in the witness chair, testified he was the driver for the group.

Deputy Prosectuor Druffel asked the court to delay sentencing Tuesday morning because he wanted to have Hood return to the courtroom for sentencing. Hood has appeared at other court sessions involving the other suspects in the case.