EVERETT — A Lynnwood man with a substantial criminal history was sentenced Tuesday to more than 13 years in prison for holding up a credit union in 2009 while wearing some sort of plaster smeared on his face.
The term was near the middle of the standard sentencing range Jeffrey A. York could have faced.
York, 37, told Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Richard Okrent he expected a firm sentence.
Okrent obliged, telling the defendant, “A history of bad choices leads to bad consequences.”
With family in the courtroom to support him, York vowed to turn his life around when he is released.
“No matter what happens today, I made a promise it will never happen again,” he said.
Prosecutors charged York with holding up the All City Credit Union in Lynnwood and would have charged him with a second bank robbery had the case gone to trial.
Witnesses reported in both robberies the suspect had some sort of clay or plasterlike substance on his face and handed tellers notes demanding money.
Detectives say genetic evidence found on a gun dropped outside the All City Credit Union was a match for York.
York allegedly came face-to-face with Edmonds Assistant Police Chief Gerry Gannon as he was leaving the credit union. The off-duty assistant chief drew his weapon and ordered the suspect to stop. The robber allegedly ran and Gannon gave chase.
Gannon lost sight of the suspect as he rounded a corner, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Laura Twitchell wrote in court papers.
Gannon retraced the robber’s escape route and found a handgun magazine and an unspent round. Lynnwood police officer later found a pistol in the area. Prosecutors allege that York’s DNA was found on the slide and grip of the gun.
Twitchell noted that York initially thought the robbery might be a third strike that under state law could have resulted in a life sentence.
“He did it any way,” she said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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