Lang
2/28/21
A suspect in an Iowa City armed robbery case has entered a guilty plea.
Online court records show 22-year-old Keith Whittmon-Anderson of Cedar Rapids reached a deal with prosecutors and entered a guilty plea on Friday. Judge Mary Chicchelly set a sentencing date for April 19th.
Whittmon-Anderson is charged with 1st Degree Robbery, Carrying Weapons, 1st Degree Theft, Going Armed with Intent and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He and 19-year-old Patrick Lucas are accused of approaching a man on North Gilbert Street early the morning of Aug. 1, 2018, with Lucas brandishing a handgun and demanding money. The would-be victim refused, and police say Whittmon-Anderson then took possession of the gun and tried to intimidate the man.
A physical struggle ensued, and the victim fought off the two men, who allegedly fled to a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Sais Troche-Vargas. Police located that vehicle a short time later, claiming to have found the gun and marijuana inside.
If convicted on the original charges, Whittmon-Anderson would have faced up to 28 years in prison.
The other two reached a plea deal in December 2018. Troche-Vargas was given a deferred judgement on Conspiracy to Commit a Non-Forcible Felony and sentenced to 3 years’ probation and a suspended fine. Lucas pleaded down to 2nd Degree Robbery and also given a deferred judgement, a suspended fine and three years’ probation.