Thrifty Mart robber pleads guilty

LIHU‘E — A Waimea man pleaded guilty last week to second-degree robbery in connection with the March stickup of the Kaumakani Thrifty Mart.

Police originally arrested 23-year-old Timothy Richardson on April 1 on a charge of first-degree robbery.

He pleaded on May 4 to the lesser charge, which is a class B felony.

Testimony presented at the preliminary hearing on April 6 showed that on March 8, at about 1:15 p.m., the defendant entered the Thrifty Mart wearing a beanie, dark clothing and sunglasses, and asked the cashier if she had change for $100.

He then walked around the store, where he pretended to look for something to buy. Shortly thereafter, Richardson approached the counter, pointed an object that resembled a handgun at the cashier, and said “Give me your money,” a county press release states.

After the clerk screamed and hid around a corner, Richardson fled the store without obtaining any money.

Kaua‘i Police Detective James Kurasaki led the investigation. With the aid of information from witnesses, KPD officers gathered sufficient evidence to arrest Richardson.

Deputy Prosecutor Melinda Mendes handled the prosecution in the case. Deputy Public Defender John Calma represented Richardson, the release states.

 “We’d like to thank the dedicated officers at the Kaua‘i Police Department for their hard work in completing this investigation so quickly and thoroughly, and also the community members that assisted KPD in bringing this defendant to justice,” said Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho in the release.

“This swift result is a great example of the benefits of close collaboration between the community, law enforcement, and the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.”

Richardson’s case is set for sentencing on July 20 before Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe.