Bail for the man who allegedly robbed an Oak Harbor convenience store at gunpoint earlier this month has been set at $100,000.
Chance Gill, 18, appeared before Judge Alan Hancock in Island County Superior Court Wednesday afternoon. He was arrested the evening before by Oak Harbor police detectives in connection with the robbery of DK Market on Feb. 15.
In his first court appearance, Deputy Prosecutor David Carman recommended bail be set at $100,000. Gill has no prior criminal history, but Carman argued he represents a flight risk and asked bail to be set at $100,000.
Carman said Gill is unemployed, has been living with his mother since November and there are indications that the robbery was not spontaneous. Also, the nature of the crime should be considered, he said.
“This was a very violent incident,” Carman said.
A member of Gill’s family did petition for a lesser amount, arguing that he had completed a drug program, but Hancock agreed that Carman’s recommendation was appropriate.
Gill faces a charge of first-degree armed robbery. If convicted, the standard sentencing range is from 31 to 41 months in jail.
According to Lt. Tim Sterkel of the Oak Harbor Police Department, Gill was taken into custody at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting on Regatta Drive Tuesday evening after detectives received a tip from the man’s mother.
The woman called police and alerted them that she had found items in her home – a backpack, gun and sunglasses – that she believed connected her son with the February robbery.
Video footage of the crime depicted a young black man who was wearing a black backpack, a hooded sweatshirt and white-rimmed sunglasses. The man got away with cash, a carton of cigarettes, and a Monster energy drink.
He was last seen running across Highway 20 toward Burger King. Although police were in the area quickly, they found no trace of the robber. Sterkel said the man may have changed or shed layers of clothing to avoid capture.
“He just slipped away from us,” Sterkel said.
Gill wasn’t unknown to police. In fact, Sterkel said he was one of four suspects detectives were investigating but that they did not have enough evidence to make any arrests.
