A Durango man who robbed someone at a downtown ATM – and, in an unrelated incident, committed identity theft to purchase a car – faces up to three years in prison after signing a plea agreement Tuesday in District Court.
Maurice Anderson, 31, pleaded guilty to the crimes earlier this year, but District Judge Jeffrey Wilson rejected the plea agreement, saying the proposed sentence was too lenient.
The earlier plea agreement would have allowed Anderson to remain free as part of a five-year community corrections program.
In addition to facing three years in prison, Anderson must serve three years probation upon his release. If he violates the terms of his probation, he faces an additional two to eight years in prison, according to his newest plea agreement.
Sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 5.
Anderson, who has maintained his innocence despite having pleaded guilty to the ATM robbery, is accused of approaching a man from behind while he withdrew cash at Bank of the San Juans, 144 E. Eight St. Police said Anderson was armed with a knife, which he used to stab the ATM user in the chin before taking the money and fleeing in a white Toyota Prius.
The victim was not seriously injured.
The robbery occurred about 5 p.m. April 21 outside the bank’s downtown location at 144 E. Eighth St.
The ATM camera recorded the suspect wearing a black hooded coat or sweatshirt, gloves, sunglasses and a scarf covering his face.
While free on bail, Anderson used a fake identification to fraudulently purchase a car for $30,000 and then sold it to a Farmington man for $16,385.
shane@durangoherald.com