Lang
6/18/21
A convicted felon arrested earlier this month for being in possession of a firearm faces more charges after allegedly stealing a crossbow and bolts from a Coralville sporting goods store.
Coralville Police say 59-year-old Ronald Robi of North Liberty entered Scheels at the Coral Ridge Mall around 6pm on June 5th. He allegedly loaded a crossbow, multiple bolts, a tent and a cot into a cart and pushed it past all points of purchase without paying. The total value of the items was $3,414.96. The incident was caught on security video. When confronted by loss prevention, Robi allegedly fled from the store.
Police also say Robi had been at Scheels the previous month in an attempt to purchase two Staccato handguns. He didn’t take possession of the guns because he did not have the proper documents to complete the paperwork. He allegedly returned on June 1st and took possession of the firearms without completing the paperwork. Officers executed a search warrant on Robi’s Timberwolf Drive home and discovered a Savage Arms brand rifle in his truck.
A check of Robi’s records showed multiple felony convictions for theft and forgery going back to 1973 and as recently as 2003. Just one felony conviction makes Robi ineligible to own a firearm.
Robi was charged with three counts of Dominion or Control of a Firearm by a Felon, and could be sentenced to up to fifteen years in prison if convicted. He also faces a 2nd Degree Theft charge for the June 5th incident. That charge carries a maximum five-year sentence.