As reported by Vail Daily and others, a man has pleaded guilty to seven charges of ATM theft that involved breaking into dozens of cash machines, while eluding police over a two-year period in the Summit counties of Western Colorado.
E.C. entered his guilty plea before District Court Judge Fred Gannett. When queried by the judge if his pleas were entered voluntarily, E.C. replied, "Yes, your honor."
Sentencing is scheduled for June 14. E.C. is facing up to 12 years alone if found guilty on the local charges.
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert commented, "I was not surprised he pleaded guilty to all seven counts. We had a great case and we're happy with the outcome. It's appropriate given the severity of this crime."
E.C. is accused of over 80 ATM thefts: 25 in Eagle and Summit counties, 22 in Grand Junction and 35 separate counts in Mesa County.
E.C. also pleaded guilty to seven felonies in Eagle County.
In crediting the joint police work involved Hurlbert said, "The Avon police, Vail police and Summit County authorities did a great job…."
In one burglary last April E.C. broke into the Eagle's Nest on Vail Mountain and escaped on a snowbike.
In a November 19 robbery E.C. left behind the two grinders he had used for the break-in. An officer discovered them and they were sent for forensic investigation. The grinders led them to a Wal-Mart store and it was determined that E.C. had paid cash for them just minutes before the burglary.
E.C. had arrived and departed the Wal-Mart in the same taxi. He was also seen wearing a beanie cap – pulled low over his eyes – and a bright green-colored jacket.
Eventually through phone records, license plate numbers and Facebook, investigators linked the thefts to E.C. and put him under surveillance. When E.C. began acting suspiciously, investigators worried that he had discovered he was being watched, so they "tried to keep this as quiet as possible. After you do an investigation this long you don't want to tip your hand" and they moved in on the suspect.
They contacted E.C. at the local hotel he was staying at and he voluntarily came in for a "comprehensive" interview.
The carry-on bag that E.C. had with him at the time of the interview – and officers got a warrant to search – was carrying an ATM drawer. It was determined that it was from one of the earlier robberies, and kept for practice.
Lt. Greg Daly with the Avon Police Department said, "It was tenacious, collaborative policing by all the agencies involved. We weren't letting go of this. We did not want any more of these burglaries to happen to any more as our citizens. He was a sophisticated serial burglar who was able to avoid capture for a long period of time."
Contact a criminal defense attorney for one or more charges related to theft, or any other criminal charges. It is at this time that you need to be thinking about mounting your defense.
