And in crime news, today 40-year-old Rudolpho Cocom was in court today after attempting to rob the cashier at Vin Fah Shopping center last Thursday. Reports are that Cocom, who was wearing a grey face mask, approached the woman working the Mega Bingo machine with a backpack and told her to fill the bag with money. When she told him she didn't have money, he put the gun he was using back into the bag and boarded a bus. Police found him and later discovered that it was just a toy gun.
Cocom appeared unrepresented in court today and was read a single charge of robbery with a firearm. However, while in court, he pleaded guilty and told the judge that he committed the crime because a Mexican was pressuring him for money. He said he already made a report since the Mexican was threatening to hurt his family.
Though the charge of attempted robbery can carry the same penalty of robbery, the magistrate took into consideration Cocom's guilty plea and the fact that he had no previous convictions. The Magistrate then explained to Cocom that the offense he was charged with carried a sentence of no less than 5 years, but she instead imposed a fine of $1,000 plus a $5 cost of court fine, which he has until November 30th to pay, in default 1 year imprisonment.
