Serial robber gets five-year term

A Vancouver woman was sentenced Friday to more than five years in prison for a spate of commercial robberies this year.

Marie A. Berry, 35, was accused of robbing seven businesses — two banks, two gas stations, a restaurant, a tanning salon and a department store — in April and June.

She pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Nisle dismissed one count of first-degree robbery, one count of second-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree theft and one count of felony harassment.

In the most recent robbery, she entered Columbia Bank, 7500 N.E. 117th Ave., about 3:30 p.m. June 26 and approached the counter. She presented a note stating, “Do not alert anyone, no cops. Five minutes. No bait money. One minute. Big bills first.” She allegedly fled with $2,225 in cash and then commandeered a microcar to flee the scene.

Three weeks before that, on June 6, court records say, Berry entered a Shell gas station at 8515 N.E. Andresen Road and presented a note demanding money and implying that she had a weapon, though she never displayed one. She made off with $58, court records say.

On June 4, Berry entered a Tan Republic salon at 10501 N.E. Highway 99 at 9 p.m. and demanded money, stating that she had a gun, court records say. Berry also robbed a People’s Credit Union, 7403 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave., on April 27 by presenting a demand note. Court records don’t disclose how much was taken. Court records say Berry used similar methods to rob a Pizza Hut, 11500 N.E. 76th St., on April 14; a Kohl’s department store, 9312 N.E. Fifth Ave., on April 11; and a Shell gas station, 404 N.E. 78th St., on April 5.

Surveillance video from other financial institutions shows the defendant casing other banks within 30 minutes of the Columbia Bank robbery, court records say.

A witness overheard her on Aug. 4 discussing the People’s robbery, according to court records. The witness said Berry described going into the credit union with a hoodie pulled over her head and then running out to her car with the money, court records say.

People’s teller Kylie Green wrote in a statement to Judge John Nichols that the robbery made her question her career choice.

“Not only did this crime give me anxiety and much loss of sleep, but it greatly affected my ability to work,” she wrote. “I had to relocate to another branch of my credit union in order to ease the anxiety of working.”

Berry didn’t have a criminal history before the robberies, said her attorney, Sean Downs. He said addiction to methamphetamine fueled the crime spree.

Nichols said he didn’t buy that excuse because the robberies involved some sophisticated planning.