Gas Station Robbery Suspect Receives Four Year Suspended Prison Sentence

(KNSI) – A 25-year-old man who pleaded guilty to robbing the same gas station three times in eight days has been handed a suspended sentence of four years in prison.

According to the criminal complaints, on the afternoon of October 15th, 2024, police were called to the Marathon Gas Station on the 700 block of 9th Avenue South following a robbery. The cashier showed police a video of the suspect, identified in court papers as Camden Jackson, walking around the store taking items before jumping over the counter and saying something to the cashier, who then opened the register. Jackson took money out of the cash drawer and left. The victim told police Jackson pointed a black semi-automatic style handgun and said “give me the money.” Officers got a call from someone who lives near the store saying there was a fake handgun in a plastic bag under the trash bin in the parking lot of a building that was close to the store and also consistent with the direction he fled.

On October 20th, police were called to the same gas station for another robbery that was similar to the first, with Jackson showing up around the same time of day, appearing to be there to buy something, but then jumping over the counter and taking money from the register before fleeing the scene. After comparing video of the two robberies, police said they concluded they were committed by the same person. Upon watching surveillance video from nearby apartments, police said they noticed he was wearing the same pants as the suspect from the first incident. They also watched as Jackson met up with someone whom they later spoke with, and that person confirmed it was the suspect.

On October 21st, police were again called to the gas station where they spoke with a woman who told investigators her brother was the person they’re looking for. Officers showed her the video and she told them she was “convinced without a doubt” it was her brother. She said the sweatshirt Jackson wore during one of the robberies was one he had stolen from her daughter.

Two days later, officers were called back to the Marathon for another robbery. The employee said that when the suspect came in, he was told he wasn’t allowed to be there. Instead of leaving, Jackson jumped over the counter and gestured as if he had a knife in his sweatshirt pocket, kept poking him, and motioned for him to move away from the register. The employee said Jackson grabbed about $200 cash right out of the register and then fled the scene. This cashier was the same one Jackson was accused of pulling the gun on in the first robbery.

After watching the video of the third incident, police ultimately determined Jackson was indeed their suspect and decided that “due to the nature of the offense” and his “flight from the scene,” a warrant was necessary “to prevent further harm to the public.”

Jackson was charged with firs and second degree aggravated robbery and simple robbery. In exchange for Jackson’s guilty plea, prosecutors dropped the charge of simple robbery. Jackson was given credit for the 69 days he spent in jail while the case made its way through the courts. The prison time is stayed, meaning he won’t spend another day behind bars as long as he abides by the terms of his five-year probation.

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