NorthwestMarch 7, 2014

Ruben P. Ramirez is also charged with two misdemeanors after Lewiston Goodwill incident

RALPH BARTHOLDT OF THE TRIBUNE

A Moscow man accused of stealing a car from a Lewiston Goodwill store and crashing it into a delivery truck on Main Street was charged Thursday with four felonies and two misdemeanors.

Ruben P. Ramirez, 34, was charged in Magistrate Court with robbery, attempted robbery and grand theft. Because he allegedly used or pretended to use a firearm to commit the crimes, a felony enhancement was added to the charges by the prosecutor's office. The 34-year-old was also charged with failing to stop at an accident scene and driving without privileges.

The maximum sentence for burglary is life in prison, Magistrate Greg Kalbfleisch said. Attempted robbery carries a maximum half life sentence and a $25,000 fine, and if found guilty of grand theft, Ramirez could serve 14 years behind bars and pay a fine of $5,000. The firearm enhancement could add 15 years to a prison sentence.

Appearing at the hearing Thursday via video conference from the Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office, Ramirez stuttered and was incoherent at times as he responded to questions from the judge.

Ramirez said he was recently hired as a cook at a local restaurant.

"If there was any chance," he said. "I would like to go back to work."

He asked the judge to release him on his own recognizance.

Kalbfleisch set bail at $100,000, noting that Ramirez could hire a bonding company for a surety, which allows paying a percentage of the bond amount to secure release for jail.

If he posted bail, Rodriguez would be prohibited from contacting the people he allegedly tried stealing cars from, the judge said.

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Ramirez was arrested Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of 18th and Main streets where he crashed into a Pepsi truck while driving a 2009 Subaru belonging to Goodwill Industries, according to police. He had allegedly made two attempts to steal a car just minutes before the crash.

He approached a man in the parking lot of Advanced Fire Protection, a business on the 1900 block of Idaho Street, at 3:32 p.m., and with a white cloth concealing what looked like a pistol, he allegedly attempted to steal a Ford Explorer, according to police. Rebuffed, he walked to Goodwill Industries and using the same tactic demanded the keys to a vehicle from a worker. Ramirez crashed the stolen car minutes later, fled the scene of the accident and was apprehended by an off-duty Washington State Patrol officer and two employees of a nearby business, according to police.

Because of his erratic behavior, Ramirez was transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for evaluation following the crash.

"It's certainly an issue whether he was under the influence," Lewiston Police Capt. Roger Lanier said. "The medical screening will show that."

Lab results have not been completed, Lanier said. Police did not recover a firearm.

The judge ordered Ramirez be appointed a public defender from Kwate Law Office. His next hearing is set for March 19.

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Bartholdt can be contacted at rbartholdt@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2275.

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