A Louisiana man was sentenced to more than four years in prison after pleading guilty to an armed robbery at a Family Dollar store in July 2014.
Jean Paul Perez, 35, of Avondale, Louisiana, entered a guilty plea Monday in New Hanover County Superior Court to a charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to a notice from District Attorney Ben David. Perez was charged in connection with the robbery of the Family Dollar store at 1013 Market St. on the evening of July 3, 2014.
Perez reportedly grabbed cash from the open register and struggled with the store clerk, who tried to get the money back. He took the money and ran from register. The clerk and a co-worker ran after Perez but stopped when the defendant pulled out a semi-automatic handgun.
“The two employees stopped chasing the defendant once they saw the weapon. Thankfully, no one was physically injured,” Assistant District Attorney Connie Jordan said.
Wilmington police were able to obtain store surveillance video and were alerted to the suspect by an unknown caller, who identified the robber as Perez. He was later identified by the victim in a photographic line-up.
“The defendant fled the area, but was arrested in Louisiana and extradited back to North Carolina in September of 2015 to face the charges,” David said.
Perez was sentenced between 59-83 months in the N.C. Department of Corrections.
