Blanchard sentencing awaits verified records

A man found guilty of holding up a Shelbyville convenience market in March has had his sentencing hearing delayed until next month so that a previous conviction in another state can be verified.

Richard Lowell "Rick" Blanchard II, 46, of North Main Street appeared before Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler Monday to learn his sentence, but defense attorney Hershell Koger questioned some of the data in Blanchard's pre-sentence report.

Inquiries were made about bad check charges attributed to Blanchard, but probation officials were also questioned under oath about a charge of assault on an officer in Broward County, Florida.

A member of the probation office stated she verified the conviction over the phone with a court clerk in Florida using Blanchard's name, date of birth and social security number, but Koger asked that a certified copy of the conviction be provided.

Crigler then reset Blanchard's sentencing hearing to Jan. 25. He could face from eight to 12 years for the crime.

Blanchard was found guilty in October 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 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.

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

Crews also testified in October 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."

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.