ST. GEORGE – A couple accused of the armed robbery of a pharmacy in June were both in court Tuesday morning. While the husband made his first appearance in federal court, his wife’s case may soon be resolved.
Kevin and Elizabeth Richards are accused of robbing the Hurricane Family Pharmacy on June 21.
According to court documents, Kevin Richards entered the pharmacy while masking his face and pointing a pistol toward at least five people. He demanded drugs, primarily Oxycodone.
Kevin Richards left the pharmacy with a large amount of medications and was seen by employees getting into a Nissan Altima. Elizabeth Richards is detailed as being the driver of the car used to flee the scene.
Hurricane City Police located the Nissan soon after and took Kevin and Elizabeth Richards into custody.
Kevin Richards told police that a third party had committed the robbery and ran from the car just before police arrived. Elizabeth Richards offered a different story and told investigators she had just picked up prescriptions from the pharmacy. She made no mention of a third party.
Investigators would ultimately locate medications taken from the pharmacy, as well as the handgun used in the robbery.
Both have been charged by the state with multiple felonies related to aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and obstruction of justice.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office is anticipated to drop its case against Kevin Richards due to it being picked up in U.S. District Court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Kohler said.
Replacing Utah’s charges will be three federal felonies related to armed robbery; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and using, carrying and brandishing that firearm during a criminal act.
The armed robbery count can carry a maximum prison term of 20 years in prison, Kohler told the court. A count of being a felon with a firearm can carry a maximum of 10 years, while using and brandishing a firearm during a crime can carry a minimum mandatory term of seven years.
Attorney Aric Cramer was appointed to serve as Kevin Richards’ defense by the court.
Kevin Richards pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.
A detention hearing was set for Friday, until which time Kevin Richards remains in the custody of U.S. Marshals.
A potential trial date has been set for November. Kevin Richards briefly appeared in 5th District Court prior to his initial appearance in U.S. District Court. His case was set for review later this month.
Elizabeth Richards also appeared in 5th District Court. Her attorney, Ryan Stout, told the court that the case was on the road to a likely resolution yet was not quite ready to move forward that day.
A hearing for the possible resolution has been set for Sept. 20.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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Twitter: @MoriKessler
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