A transient man accused of robbing two Vancouver banks and attempting to rob a third in March was sentenced Friday to 7 1/2 years in prison, according to court records.
Howard M. Johnson Jr., 29, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to first-degree robbery, first-degree theft and attempted second-degree theft. He initially faced two counts of first-degree robbery and attempted first-degree robbery. However, as part of a plea deal, the charges were amended in exchange for his guilty pleas, court records show.
The spree started at 4:19 p.m. March 7, when a man, later identified as Johnson, entered iQ Credit Union, 7017 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, and presented the teller with a note. It stated, “Give me all the money on the counter. Don’t say anything,” according to an affidavit of probable cause.
The teller told police she thought she gave Johnson about $300 in dollar bills. A later count of her money drawer found the loss was actually $1,430, the affidavit states.
Surveillance footage captured the man leaving the credit union in a black car after getting the money, court records said.
A week later, at 4:43 p.m. March 14, Johnson entered U.S. Bank, 16415 S.E. McGillivray Blvd., and again put a note on the counter that read, “Put your cash in a bag.” The teller yelled her manager’s name, at which point he picked up the note and ran out of the bank without any money, court documents said. His image was captured on surveillance footage.
But several minutes later, Johnson entered Columbia Credit Union, 108 Grand Blvd., on the other side of town. He put a note on the counter, this one stating, “Put all the cash from the drawer on counter now! Starting with 100s and 50s. No funny stuff.” Johnson took the money the teller gave him and walked out of the credit union. He left with $4,180, according to the affidavit.
After releasing images of the suspect to the media, investigators received tips from people who recognized the man as Johnson. On March 20, he was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in Portland on a Washington Department of Corrections warrant, according to court documents.
During an interview with detectives, he admitted to committing all three robberies and provided details — money taken, clothing descriptions, the color and message on the notes — “that would only be known by the person who committed the robberies or the bank employees,” the affidavit said.
In addition to his sentence, 364 days on the attempted theft was suspended for two years. Johnson will also serve 36 months of community custody, court records show.
