Suspect in foiled knifepoint robbery at Lubbock liquor store indicted
A 44-year-old man was arrested last month after police say he tried to rob a liquor store at knifepoint but was disarmed by an employee and chased out of the business.
A Lubbock County grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Johnny Sertuche with a count of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony that carries a punishment of five years to life in prison.
However, prior convictions could increase his minimum punishment range to 25 years. Court records show Sertuche was convicted of robbery in 1999 then in 2015 he was convicted of aggravated robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Sertuche's latest charge stems from a Lubbock police investigation into an April 3 robbery at a liquor store in the 2000 block of 50th Street where an employee told responding officers he fought off a knife-wielding robber.
A police report states the employee told officers that a masked man entered the store about 3:35 p.m. and walked to the back of the business and approached him armed with a knife.
The employee told officers that masked man ordered him to open the register, punched him twice on the left side of his face then placed the tip of the knife against his abdomen, the report states.
The employee said the robber punched him again. However, he said he disarmed the robber and the two fought.
As the robber ran out of the store, the employee said he was able to pull off the robber's mask and shirt.
Jail records show police arrested Sertuche later that day in the 1700 block of 46th Street.
He remains held at the Lubbock County Detention Center. His bond for the aggravated robbery charge is set at $75,000. He is also facing a misdemeanor count of evading arrest. His bond on that charge is set at $3,500.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Suspect in foiled knifepoint robbery at Lubbock liquor store indicted
