BY KEITH EPPS
With an extra week to think about it, a 23-year-old Bumpass man decided not to leave his fate in the hands of a Fredericksburg jury.
Ricky Kaiser pleaded guilty to five felonies, including robbery, yesterday in Fredericksburg Circuit Court.
The charges stemmed from a May 20 robbery at the CVS pharmacy near Mary Washington Hospital in which more than $7,700 worth of drugs were taken. Police said the suspect was made up like a clown.
A jury trial for Kaiser began Feb. 12 and was supposed to continue the next day. However, Kaiser, who was free on bond, didn't show up for the trial's second day.
He was arrested later that day at Potomac Hospital, where he'd gone for what he reported to be injuries received in an accident.
He was placed in jail until yesterday, when he changed his pleas to guilty.
According to the evidence presented last week by prosecutor Darren Marting, Kaiser entered the pharmacy late May 20 wearing a top hat and a painted beard.
He handed the pharmacist a note demanding drugs and claiming that an armed accomplice was elsewhere in the store.
He left the store with about 2,500 OxyContin and Methadone pills.
Two women Kaiser has dated later gave police information implicating him in the crime. Both said Kaiser had given them details about the robbery.
In addition, Kaiser's fingerprints were found on the note and the writing matched that of a handwriting sample police received from an ex-girlfriend.
In addition to robbery, Kaiser pleaded guilty to burglary, grand larceny with the intent to sell and two counts of illegally possessing prescription drugs with the intent to distribute.
He will be sentenced May 29. Attorney Tara-Beth Coleman is representing Kaiser.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com