20-year-old pleads guilty to robbing Cedar Rapids liquor store with gun

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man pleaded guilty Thursday to being armed and robbing a liquor store with two other men last year.

Jack Daniels Yoders, 20, pleaded in Linn County District Court to conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, first-degree theft and displaying a dangerous weapon. He admitted during the hearing to robbing Big Discount Liquor, 5427 Center Point Rd. NE, on Oct. 28.

Yoders also admitted being armed with a gun and demanding cash from a clerk in the store. Nobody was injured during the robbery.

He faces up to 25 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Oct. 6.

One co-defendant, Robert L.R. Barlow, 27, pleaded guilty in April to attempt to elude, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and first-degree theft. He also faces up to 25 years in prison.

The other co-defendant, Joshua Sandlin, 37, is charged with first-degree robbery. Assistant Linn County Attorney Nic Scott said Yoders and Barlow, as part of their plea agreements, will testify against Sandlin at his Oct. 5 trial.

According to police reports, witnesses described the three men and the getaway vehicle - a minivan. Within five minutes of the robbery, an officer found the van near Center Point Road and H Avenue NE. Police said the driver, Barlow, refused to pull over and a chase ensued.

Police lost track of the minivan but then found it abandoned in an alley. The officers found two men nearby who matched the description of the robbery suspects. While those two men were being questioned, the third suspect was found and taken into custody.