Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announced today that late yesterday afternoon a jury found Lawrence resident, Gabriel A. Patterson, 21, guilty of three counts of aggravated robbery and one court of aggravated burglary.

Investigation into the case began at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 8 when officers with the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to an apartment in the 900 block of Arkansas in reference to a robbery that had just occurred.  Investigators would learn that five suspects went to the apartment, forced open the front door; pistol whipped one of the victims and terrorized several other victims.  It was discovered later that the suspects believed the victims would be easy targets and that was why the suspects selected them.  The suspects stole between $1,000 and $1,500 cash, a X Box, cell phones and a small amount of marijuana.

During the trial Mr. Patterson’s defense attorney did not deny his client was at the apartment the morning of the crime, but claimed he did not help or participate in the crime.

Jury selection for the trial began Monday morning and opening arguments were delivered Monday afternoon.  Testimony continued all day Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.  Closing arguments were delivered Wednesday afternoon.  The jury deliberated for about one and a half hours before delivering its verdict.  Mr. Patterson will be sentenced on June 29 at 2:30 p.m.  The case co-defendants will next appear in Court for the following hearings:

2014CR914/Zachary Pence – is set for a plea hearing on May 22 at 9:00 a.m.

2014CR933/Driskell Johnson is set for a sentencing hearing on May 28 at 9:15 a.m.

2014CR935/Cody Kukuk is set for a sentencing hearing on June 9 at 9:00 a.m.

2014CR956/Yusef Kindell is set for a sentencing hearing on June 17 at 3:00 p.m.

The Honorable Paula B. Martin presided over the case.  The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple.

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