A habitual felony offender and prison release offender was sentenced to 30 years in prison for armed robbery and attempted kidnapping at two Marion County internet cafes.
Christopher Charles Stevenson was sentenced earlier this year for robbing the Cafe Gold Mine in January 2018, and Loretta’s Fun Center in February 2018. Stevenson was arrested in March of that year.
According to court records, during both robberies, Stevenson used a black firearm to hold an employee at gunpoint and bound the employee’s hands and feet. Detectives identified Stevenson after seeing store surveillance videos.
After being read his Miranda rights, Stevenson admitted to committing both robberies.
Stevenson’s attorney filed a motion to surpress Stevenson’s admission, arguing that detectives made misrepresentations of the law when questioning Stevenson and held him for a long time without adequate provisions.
The State’s Attorney’s Office, which was represented by attorney Erik Rauba in the matter, disputed those claims and the judge ruled in favor of the State, declining to throw out the confession.
After the State prevailed at the suppression hearing, the defendant entered a plea instead of going to trial. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Stevenson was sentenced to 30 years in prison for two counts of robbery with a firearm and two counts of attempted kidnapping while armed.