Man Convicted Of Murder, Robbery

A King County Superior Court jury has convicted a man of murder and robbery charges in what King County police say was a drug-related killing.

Aljeron Latroy Pleasant, 21, of Des Moines, screamed in anguish Friday as he left the courtroom at the Regional Justice Center in Kent where he was being held.

The brother of murder victim Alonzo Buckner Jr. loudly applauded the conviction, angering Judge Ann Schindler, who ordered a hearing on contempt sanctions against him.

Pleasant was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery stemming from a crime spree in the Federal Way area on Sept. 20, 1996.

His friend Lonnie Jones, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify in exchange for a sentence of 20 years.

Pleasant and 17-year-old Charles Washington attempted to rob Sheryl Fishback of Auburn as she stopped for cigarettes at a gas station, Jones said.

Fishback survived after being shot twice by Washington, who remains at large, according to trial testimony.

Pleasant, Jones and Washington then decided to find someone to rob and drove to Buckner’s home, where he lived with his wife, their two young children and a stepson in the low-income Westway neighborhood.

Prosecutors said Buckner was known to sell crack cocaine and often had large amounts of cash.

The men forced their way into Buckner’s home. When he ran, Pleasant chased him into another room and shot him, Jones said.

Pleasant faces a possible life sentence, with a standard range of 30 to 40 years.