A man found guilty of hiding in a convenience store locker for an hour before confronting a clerk at gunpoint and robbing the store has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Nestor Omar Perez, 26, was found guilty of Robbery with a Firearm and Grand Theft (more than $750 but less than $5,000) on Sept. 2 He was arrested by the Panama City Police Department Oct. 13, 2023 robbery in the 3000 block of U.S. 98.
Prosecutor Morgan McAfee called 12 witnesses and presented evidence that it was Perez who walked into the store that day, confronted a clerk with a gun, and committed the robbery.
The evidence showed that the defendant, wearing a jacket partially concealing his face, confronted an employee inside the store and pointed a gun at him. The defendant grabbed money from the register and fled north on Beck Avenue.
Minutes later, with police saturating the area, police spotted the defendant walking in socks near 18th Street and Wilmont Ave. When searched, the defendant had the gun used in the robbery which had distinctive tape wrapped around the handle. They also found cash in his pocket.
Nearby, police found a pair of distinctive green shoes and other clothing that matched what the robber was wearing in a trashcan. Officers also found several hundred dollars nearby on the ground. The amount found on the ground combined with the amount found in the defendant’s pocket matched the amount missing from the store’s register.
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The defendant’s car was found parked a short distance away.
State Attorney Larry Basford thanked the Panama City Police Department for its fast response and thorough investigation that helped lead to a quick resolution.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.