The man involved in a one-day crime spree throughout Cold Lake was sentenced to 900 days behind bars.
Over the course of less than 24 hours, Jose Marroquín Morales robbed three Cold Lake convenience stores, and on Tuesday, March 19, he pled guilty to the offence in the Bonnyville Provincial Courthouse.
Honourable Judge Clifton Purvis sentenced Marroquin Morales to 900 days in jail after he pled guilty to three counts of robbery.
It started at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 12, when Cold Lake RCMP were called about an armed robbery at the Cold Lake Esso on 55 St.
A male had come in wearing a dark hoody with his face covered, and was believed to be armed with a gun.
After robbing the store, he fled on foot.
Three hours later, at 9:30 p.m., RCMP received a second report that the Red Rooster had been robbed at gun point.
According to witnesses, a male suspect had entered the store wearing a dark hood with his face covered. He pointed a gun at the clerk before grabbing her elbow and directing her toward the till.
The male stole over $200 before he fled, once again on foot.
Several hours later, at 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 13, Marroquin Morales committed his final robbery.
Police responded to the Esso gas station on 16 Ave. where the suspect had just made off with $130 in cash.
Police used video surveillance to confirm it was the same male in all three incidences.
It was tips from the public that led RCMP to Marroquin Morales.
He told police he had committed the offences, and when they searched his vehicle, which matched the description of one seen at all three scenes of the crime, they found shoes and a hoody the same as the ones the suspect had been wearing.
RCMP executed a search warrant on his residence and found a green hat, which was also worn by the suspect.
Officers found the weapon used in the robberies and determined it was a pellet handgun.
Marroquin Morales was arrested that same day.
St. Paul's chief Crown prosecutor Jordan Kerr and defence counsel Spencer Hart, had a joint submission of 30 months in custody and a lifetime weapons prohibition.
Marroquin Morales will also have to provide a sample of his DNA for the national databank.
Kerr said, "During the second robbery he physically took hold of the elbow of a clerk while holding what appeared to be a handgun."
He explained how that alone would have been a terrifying experience for the staff at the Red Rooster, describing it as one of the aggravating factors of the case.
According to Hart, Marroquin Morales grew up in Guatemala, but relocated to Canada to live with family.
He fell back into his old ways with drugs when he went to Edmonton to take an English course.
Marroquin Morales is hoping to use his time in custody to seek treatment for his issues with drugs.
With no prior criminal record to speak of, Purvis agreed with the joint submission.
As of his sentencing, Marroquin Morales had 802 days left to serve.
"I seriously apologize for my bad decisions. I'm sorry, that's why I've taken responsibility," Marroquin Morales expressed.
