A 24-year-old Coupeville man is accused of robbing a man at knife point, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, possessing methamphetamine, and forgery in four separate cases filed in Island County Superior Court.
In the most recent case, prosecutors charged Johnny Arellano Nov. 22 with robbery in the first degree in connection with a Nov. 18 incident in Coupeville. If convicted, Arellano could face up to 14 years and three months in prison under the standard sentencing range.
Arellano pleaded not guilty Dec. 4. He’s being held in jail on $75,000 bail.
According to a report by Coupeville Deputy Marshal Hodges Gowdey, a 25-year-old man reported that Arellano robbed him inside a vehicle parked at the Prairie Center grocery store.
The victim claimed Arellano opened the car door and held a black six-inch knife to his chest with the blade pointed toward his throat, Gowdey wrote. The man said Arellano removed the faceplate off the car stereo and tried to pry the molding off to remove the rest of the stereo, but was unable to do so, the report shows.
Gowdey wrote that he interviewed Arellano and he admitted to a different version of events. Arellano claimed that the incident occurred at a Libbey Road location. He said the owner of the car owed his mother money, so he tried to take the car stereo from the man’s vehicle while a passenger was sitting inside, court documents state.
Arellano denied having a knife and claimed he never threatened anyone, the report states.
In another case, prosecutors charged Arellano Sept. 25 with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and reckless endangerment.
Also on Sept. 25, prosecutors charged Arellano with possession of methamphetamine.
On Sept. 13, prosecutors charged Arellano with a single count of forgery.
Arellano pleaded not guilty in these three cases Oct. 9.
Arellano, also known as Johnny Contois, has a criminal history that includes previous charges of theft, assault, burglary and possession without prescription, according to court documents.
You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.
