Tue., July 28, 2009

Courthouse watch: 7.28.09

Two men accused of robbing a payday loan center Monday night met two very different fates today in Spokane County Superior Court.

One was jailed on $100,000 bail. The other was ordered released after a judge ruled there was no probable cause to hold him on a first-degree robbery charge, but then held when a first appearance was rescheduled.

A probable cause affidavit filed in court today details accusations against Daniel I. Neace, 19, who appeared in court via video on one count of first-degree robbery.

Police say he walked into the Check into Cash at 555 E. Francis Ave. about 4 p.m., pointed a gun at the clerk and fled with money.

A police dog helped track the suspect, leading police to arrest Neace and Nathan J. Molina, 21. A third suspect, Michael J. Anderson, 20, was arrested this afternoon and is in jail on a first-degree robbery charge.

Details of Molina's involvement aren't mentioned in the probable cause affidavit, so Judge Ellen Kalama Clark ordered Molina released today.

He remained in jail that night, however, and a jail employee said he due in court again Wednesday.

Anderson's involvement in the heist is unclear, but the affidavit includes a statement from a witness whose last name is Anderson.

That man was cashing a check at the loan center at the time of the robbery.

This isn't Neace's first brush with the law. He was arrested last year after a woman said he'd passed her car and fired a pistol out the window at trees.

Neace faces a second-degree assault charge for the incident, which you can read about here. (It's the second item.)

Suspects being released from jail because of missing paperwork or administrative errors is a problem you can read more about here.

Posted July 28, 2009, 8:03 p.m.