Robber gets prison term

SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint man who robbed a payday loan office to stave off eviction and cope with mounting debt was ordered Friday to serve up to a year in prison.

Steven Lee Keller offered his apologies to the employee he victimized during  the heist, friends and family before 1st District Judge Steve Verby imposed a five- to six-year prison sentence with retained jurisdiction.

Keller will be imprisoned with the Idaho Department of Correction for up to 12 months. During that period, the court will determine whether Keller should remain in prison to serve the full sentence or be released onto probation.

Keller, 39, entered Sandpoint Title & Payday Loans on Lake Street on Nov. 12, 2010, and demanded cash. When the clerk did not immediately comply, Keller brandished a utility knife, according to a Sandpoint Police report.

Although he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, bandana and sunglasses, the clerk immediately recognized Keller because he was a frequent customer. Police later tracked Keller to the Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights, Wash.

Keller was charged with robbery and entered an Alford plea, which means means he admits no wrongdoing, but concedes he could be convicted if the matter went to trial. At sentencing, Idaho judges regard such pleas as a regular plea of guilt.

Keller committed the offense under financial duress, Chief Public Defender Isabella Robertson told Verby during the hearing. Keller was facing eviction and up to $11,000 in debt and intended to parlay the proceeds from the robbery by playing poker.

“Today’s economy is driving people to do things people would not normally do,” said Robertson.

Both Robertson and Bonner County Deputy Public Defender Shane Greenbank jointly recommended the prison term adopted by the court, but the periods of retained jurisdiction varied.

Factors working in Keller’s favor at sentencing were long stretches of productive employment interrupted only by layoffs and an absence of a prior felony record. The premeditated nature of the crime, however, did Keller no favors.

“This wasn’t simply an impulsive act,” Verby said as he reviewed the presentence investigation, in which Keller admitted to selecting his target based on limited foot traffic and took steps to avoid being identified or delayed in his getaway.

Keller has been ordered to pay more than $300 in restitution, $500 in reimbursement for defense costs and $225 in defense costs. No fine was imposed.