bporterfield@pvdemocrat.com —
A Pauls Valley robbery more than five years ago netting just a few dollars, later tossed away by a lone suspect, finally drew a sentence with a plea in the case.
Facing a first-degree robbery charge for all these years it was Bobby Ruiz, 31, who was given a 10-year prison sentence after he recently pleaded no contest to the allegation.
It was back on Nov. 18, 2007 when Ruiz entered the E-Z Mart convenience store on the east side of PV and assaulted a clerk before taking what was believed to be only $37.
Ironically Ruiz, who shortly after the robbery admitted to committing the theft, claimed he threw away the stolen money moments after walking out of the local store.
During a recent proceeding in Garvin County District Court it was Ruiz who entered his new plea in the case before District Judge Greg Dixon handed him the long prison term. Ruiz was also given credit for incarceration time already served.
Testimony during Ruiz’ preliminary hearing back in March 2008 offered more details about the robbery.
The store’s clerk claimed a “young man” came into the store and attempted to purchase beer using some type of bank card.
During her testimony the clerk identified Ruiz as the man who came into the store.
According to the clerk, that and other purchase attempts were unsuccessful since the card was denied authorization. That led to the man leaving the store and returning several times as his behavior grew more threatening, she said.
When asked to leave Ruiz became violent as he approached the woman from behind. She claimed he used some type of object, believed to possibly have been a pencil, to jab into her ribs.
The woman claimed Ruiz was screaming at her to open the cash register, and at one point threatened her life.
The clerk then went into a fetal position as the suspect took the cash and left the store.
After his arrest a short time later Ruiz told police he committed the robbery because he was upset over breaking up with his girlfriend. He also claimed to have been under the influence of cocaine at the time.
The case against Ruiz has taken some unusual turns over the years, including at one point the robbery charge being dismissed before it was filed a second time.
In more recent times Ruiz even represented himself in the case.
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