Suspected armed robbers may be tried as juveniles
by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First
A South Burlington store clerk, who police said had a gun pointed at him during an armed robbery this month, is facing an aggravated assault charge for shooting at the fleeing robbers.
Domonic Ali-Koarti, 34, of South Burlington is due in Vermont Superior Court on Dec. 5 for the felony charge, police said.
Ali-Koarti was the victim in an armed robbery at the Interstate Shell Store on Williston Road and Dorset Street about 6 p.m. Nov. 5.
Two masked teenagers from Lamoille and Caledonia Counties carried out the armed robbery in the belief they could get $2,000, police said. The teens got to split only $640.
At least one of their cases is headed to juvenile court, while the office of State’s Attorney Sarah George petitioned for the second case also to be held behind closed doors. A judge denied the request for the time being.
August C. Hatch, 16, of Wolcott confronted the store clerk and flashed a gun that turned out to be a BB gun, police said. He pleaded not guilty in adult court on Tuesday to a felony charge of assault and robbery with a weapon for his part in the Election Night robbery.
His accomplice was later interviewed and has been ordered into Vermont Family Court in Burlington to face a juvenile proceeding next month, police said.
The two teens fled the store on foot toward a truck they had parked near Barnes and Noble book store on Dorset Street.
The store clerk has claimed, as he gave chase, two shots were fired at him and he fired 3 or 4 shots back, police said.
Ballistic evidence was recovered at the scene, according to police, who said no injuries were reported.
South Burlington Police said the clerk, Ali-Koarti, has cooperated throughout the investigation. A decision to issue Ali-Koarti a court citation was made because the initial gun threat by the teen had ended and the robbers had fled the store, police said. Ali-Koarti later fired shots, police said. It will be up to George’s office to decide if it will follow through on the court citation or reduce the case to a misdemeanor. It could also be sent to Court Diversion.
Police got a break in the case four days after the robbery when Hatch’s mother said she recognized her son from media reports that showed a photograph of a partially masked robber, court papers note.
Hatch is charged as an adult in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington with using a dangerous weapon to assault and rob a store clerk, according to Deputy State’s Attorney Lucas Collins.
Before the arraignment, Collins filed a motion to try to get the case transferred to Family Court for Hatch to be considered as a Youthful Offender. It would have meant Hatch would have faced a confidential process with very limited consequences as a juvenile due to few state options.
Judge David Fenster rejected the motion during the arraignment Tuesday and ruled the criminal case would remain transparent in adult court for the time being.
South Burlington Police said two young people wearing partial masks, dark pants and hoodies pulled over their heads entered the Interstate Shell Store.
One bandit pointed the handgun at the clerk and demanded money from the cash register, police said. The teens fled with about $640, police said.
Hatch admitted the armed robbery to his parents, who brought him to the Morristown Police Department, records show. Morristown Police Sgt. Cole Charbonneau did a preliminary interview and developed enough information to alert South Burlington Police.