craigdailypress.com

A Craig man was sentenced to seven years in prison after he pleaded guilty to robbing a local convenience store. Richard Thomas Walton, 27, pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery, a Class 4 felony, on Sept. 8 in Moffat County District Court in connection with a May 2 incident in which Craig's west end Kum & Go was robbed.

Walton had scheduled his case for trial.

Walton also originally was charged with aggravated robbery, which was dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea to the robbery charge.

Because a pre-sentence investigation was waived in the case, the man was sentenced on the spot by a judge.

Walton will pay $477.34 in court costs, and four months was shaved from his sentence for time served in the Moffat County Jail.

The convenience store clerk told police that Walton wore a ski mask and demanded cash while waving a handgun.

Police arrested Walton later that morning after officials matched him to the physical description and name given by the cashier, Craig Police Department Lt. John Forgay said.

Walton has a criminal history in Moffat County. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon in February 2004.

Walton was serving probation on two other cases -- a charge of criminal mischief in 2003 and possession of a controlled substance in 2004.

He was given a 6 1/2-year sentence for violating his probation. He'll serve that sentence concurrently with the seven years he received for the robbery.

Amy Hamilton can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 208, or ahamilton@craigdailypress.com