Man Sentenced for Bend Auto Dealership Robbery

BEND, Ore. (AP) – A man who impersonated a police officer while trying to rob a Bend, Oregon, auto dealership with a hammer in December was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of menacing.

Christopher James Grant, 51, was sentenced Wednesday.

The Bulletin reports that Grant has been in custody at the Deschutes County jail since his arrest Dec. 29.

Prior to walking into the auto dealership, Grant had never been arrested. He worked 10 years for Deschutes County Juvenile Justice as a juvenile justice officer, primarily guarding young criminal offenders. His lawyer, Leslie Nitcher, called that work the most rewarding of his life.

On Dec. 29, Nitcher said, her client was at the lowest point in his life. He’d lost his job and had no income.