Armed robbery suspects charged with multiple felonies
Criminal complaints were filed Thursday in Yuma Justice Court against the three men arrested in connection with a Tuesday morning armed robbery of a Yuma convenience store, charging them with a combined 20 felonies.
The three were arraigned in separate hearings before Justice of the Peace Greg Stewart. He informed 23-year-old Juan Avila, 24-year-old David Deranian and 23-year-old Joel Rascone, that prosecutors, after reviewing the cases against them, charged each of them with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault.
Avila, who was represented by attorney W. Michael Smith, was also charged with one count each of possession of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also has another separate, unrelated case pending against him in Yuma County Superior Court.
In that case, which also stems from the armed robbery of a Circle K in August of 2015, Avila was charged with armed robbery, misconduct involving weapons and aggravated assault.
In addition to setting their next court dates for 4 p.m. on April 7 for preliminary hearings, Stewart also assigned the Yuma County Public Defender’s Office to appoint attorneys to represent Deranian and Rascone.
Attorney Kris Moe, of that office, represented both of them during their arraignments, but only for the purpose of that hearing. Judge Stewart also ordered that their bonds remain as previously set, with Avila and Rascone’s bonds being $200,000 and Deranian’s $100,000.
According to Yuma police, at approximately 6:02 a.m., officers responded to the Chevron at 2002 S. 4th Ave. in reference to an armed robbery.
Officers were told that two male subjects, one brandishing a knife, entered the Chevron and demanded money from the clerk.
After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, they then reportedly fled the scene in an unknown direction.
Officers located three male subjects about a block away, two of whom matched the description of the suspects being sought. Through the course of the investigation, it was discovered that all three subjects allegedly were involved, police said.