Blanchard found guilty of robbery

Richard Lowell "Rick" Blanchard II, 46, of North Main Street, will be sentenced on Dec. 21 on the charge of aggravated robbery in connection with a holdup that took place at the Kangaroo store at the Madison Street-Deery Street intersection in the early morning hours of March 8.

Blanchard could face from eight to 12 years for the crime.

Assistant district attorney Richard Cawley said that facts were very simple in the case, while defense attorney Hershell Koger told the jury that the issue was about being able positively to identify Blanchard as the suspect.

Blanchard entered the store and told clerk Frank Dickerson to "Open the (cash) drawer, Pops. I don't want to have to cut you but I will," while wielding a knife.

Dickerson opened the cash register, but tried to slam the drawer on Blanchard's hand and as he left the store following the robbery, Dickerson threw a can of beer, hitting Blanchard in the back of the head as he left.

The entire incident was captured on the store's video surveillance system from three different angles.

Dickerson testified Monday about what happened on the night of the robbery, saying that he was just inches from Blanchard's face during the incident.

At first, the clerk said he was afraid he was going to get cut, but then became angry about the robbery and struck Blanchard with the can of beer as he left.

When Shelbyville police detective Brian Crews presented the store clerk with a photo lineup two days later, Dickerson pointed Blanchard out "almost instantly."

During cross-examination, Koger asked Dickerson about his vision and how long he had been wearing his glasses.

Koger made several motions throughout the trial to have evidence suppressed, including any testimony about a photo line up, or if Blanchard had a "reputation for violence." He also tried to prevent Crews from testifying that he believed it was Blanchard in the video of the robbery.

Crews testified that he suspected that the man in the video was Blanchard and came up with the photo lineup to show to Dickerson.

Koger also made an issue of an edited version of the video that appeared on the Times-Gazette website, asking Crews if he was so sure that Blanchard was the suspect, why ask the public for help.

Crews responded that the police frequently ask the T-G to post videos to get information from the public and that he was trying to confirm his belief it was Blanchard in the images.

Crews also said that when police questioned Blanchard about the robbery, he became "uncooperative," said "you've got to be kidding me," and told officers to "go ahead and book him."

Testifying in his own defense, Blanchard said the man in the video was not him and that he was in his room at the Bedford Inn when the robbery occurred.

Some time was also spent going over Blanchard's work history, which included a stint in the Marine Corps, and two years as a Florida state trooper, where he was forced to resign after getting in an altercation with another trooper.

Questions were also asked about Blanchard's claim that he served in the French Foreign Legion and about his work as a civilian contractor in Iraq several years ago. Blanchard said he had been a private security officer protecting American security engineers who were disposing of Saddam Hussein's arsenal in Fallujah.

While in Iraq, he was also part of a convoy held by U.S. Marines for 72 hours for allegedly firing weapons indiscriminately and speeding. He was cleared of all alleged wrongdoing after a Navy investigation.

Koger said that there were inconsistencies in the case that raised reasonable doubt and that Dickerson made a mistake in identifying Blanchard.

The defense attorney also told the jury that Blanchard has no injuries from being struck in the head with the beer can, or to his hands where Dickerson slammed the cash drawer.

Both the defense and prosecution asked the jury to take a close look at the video and look for tattoos that were on the suspect's arms.