PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A jury on Friday acquitted two men charged with more than 100 counts of robbery each.
Deron Crain and Jonhta Hammond were considered suspects in a “robbery spree” that spanned two months and involved more than 100 victims from 14 different robberies in Portland between June and August 2017, according to police and prosecutors.
The trial for the two men started Jan. 22 and concluded Friday, Feb. 16 with the not guilty verdict.
In each robbery, police alleged Crain and Hammond were armed with weapons that included guns and knives.
In September 2017, a grand jury handed down a 31 page indictment against Crain that charged him with 43 counts of first-degree robbery, 86 counts of second-degree robbery, 8 counts of second-degree kidnapping, 5 counts of second-degree assault, 1 count each of fourth-degree assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The same grand jury handed down a 45 page indictment against Hammond that charged him with 41 counts of first-degree robbery, 82 counts of second-degree robbery, 8 counts of second-degree kidnapping, 4 counts of second-degree assault and one count each of fourth-degree assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Each robbery was committed at bars and taverns close to or at closing time, according to police. During the investigation, police discovered a pattern in the types of clothing the suspects were wearing and the weapons they used.
Records show police investigated Crain and Hammond in connection with following robberies:
• Losta Lucky Bar & Grill – June 3, 2017
• Jolly Roger Bar – June 8, 2017
• The Station – June 10, 2017
• Bluefin Bar & Grill – June 11, 2017
• Lodge Bar – June 11, 2017
• Concordia Alehouse – June 29, 2017
• Element Lounge – July 1, 2017
• Mousetrap Tavern – July 2, 2017
• Pappy’s Bar and Grill – July 2, 2017
• Mad Hanna – July 7, 2017
• Greeley Avenue Bar & Grill – July 10, 2017
• Sandy Hut – July 10, 2017
• Hilt Bar – July 10, 2017
• Gilmore Meadows – July 12, 2017 – Milwaukie
• Perch Tavern – August 18, 2017
According to court records, data retrieved during the investigation revealed that the cell phones belonging to Hammond and Crain “revealed a high level of communication” between them “on dates leading up to and following the robberies.”
Prosecutors alleged that cell tower location placed the two men “in the area of the robberies at the time of the robberies.”
During the investigation into the robbery at Concordia Alehouse, police discovered video that prosecutors alleged “showed images of Hammond and Crain before they put their masks on to do the robbery at the Concordia Alehouse.”
Detectives also reportedly had video from Lotsa Luck Bar, “which featured video footage of Crain unmasked, canvassing the bar before the robbery occurred,” according to court documents.
A search warrant was executed in the 1500 block of Northeast 60th Avenue in connection with the investigation. During that search, police found a revolver style handgun and a semi-automatic handgun that appeared to be the same handguns used in the robberies,” according to court documents.
Police alleged that both men were known associates to that residence.
Court documents show that after police released surveillance images through Crime Stoppers of Oregon, members of the public came forward and identified Crain as being one of the suspects depicted in the surveillance photos.
A spokesperson with the Portland Police Bureau directed all media related questions on the verdict to the DA’s Office.
Multnomah County Chief Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden said prosecutors were “disappointed, but respected” the verdicts handed down by the jury. She added that both the DA’s Office and police were confident that detectives had arrested and charged the correct people in connection with the crimes.
Crain was represented by criminal defense attorney Alicia Hercher and Hammond by Thomas Freedman Jr.
According to a search warrant affidavit in the case, Crain has an “extensive criminal record in Oregon.”
“Deron has several prior firearms charges and several prior robbery charges,” the affidavit says.
Records show that he was given a 70 month prison sentence for robbery in 2002 and in 2012 was convicted in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents show that when police were looking into Hammond, they discovered that he was on parole for first-degree assault out of Clark County, Washington. He also has “a lengthy criminal record in Oregon,” according to police.
“Johnta has several prior firearms charges and a prior robbery charge,” according to police documents.
Records also show that Hammond was being looked at by the FBI in Tacoma, Washington because he was “suspected of running drugs and guns from Tacoma, Washington to Portland, Oregon.” The FBI in Spokane, Washington also told investigators that Hammond was “suspected of human trafficking with a 16-year-old,” in eastern Oregon.
The jury that heard the evidence against Crain and Hammond in connection to the robberies did not issue verdicts on the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm that each faced.
Crain and Hammond’s criminal defense attorneys elected to have Judge David F. Rees issue a verdict so that the jury would not hear about the men’s criminal pasts.
Crain was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm but Hammond was acquitted of that charge.