Nevada Appeal News Service
South Lake Tahoe - A 20-year-old man was charged with nine felony counts of armed robbery on Thursday, three days after he and another man were arrested in connection with a string of South Shore robberies that spanned about five months.
Dylan Boaz Burdick entered El Dorado County Superior Court with other jail inmates to hear his charges during an arraignment. He was appointed a public defender.
Burdick's 21-year-old roommate, William John Weldy, made his $30,000 bail after his arrest and will be in court in the upcoming weeks. Weldy is charged with one count of robbery and faces a maximum of five years in prison.
Besides the nine counts of robbery, which carries a maximum of 13 years in prison, Burdick is accused of taking a 76 Gasoline card from a person and using it. The charge carries a two-month sentence.
Burdick said he doesn't own any assets, including a car, when responding to Judge Thomas Smith's questions to determine whether he met criteria for representation by the public defender.
"Do you expect to receive a tax return?" Smith asked.
"Probably not," Burdick said.
Smith listed Burdick's bail at $100,000, a probation violation out of Placer County would send him to jail there.
In fall, single and coupled pedestrians in the Stateline area were targeted by a lone masked gunman who demanded wallets and purses.
On Jan. 5, the gunman moved to convenience stores when the 7-Eleven on Pioneer Trail was robbed. Three robberies ensued at stores this month.
When the two were arrested Tuesday, South Lake Tahoe police officers said they discovered clothing associated with the robberies and BB handguns. In addition, surveillance equipment was discovered allowing the two to see who was approaching their residence on the 1100 block of Keller Road in South Lake Tahoe.
A scant amount of money was located. Police said the two robbed for the thrill and to purchase cocaine.
- Contact reporter William Ferchland at wferchland@tahoedailytribune.com
