Three of the four suspects in a July 12 robbery made their initial appearance in Third District Court on Monday while the fourth suspect remains in the hospital.
Tooele residents Gregory Kessinger, Johnnie Bear and Rachel Myers were assigned counsel at the Tooele County Court Complex. The fourth suspect, Olivia Upchurch, also of Tooele, was stabbed by the alleged victim of the robbery and has not been released from the hospital.
Kessinger, 25, has been charged with second-degree felony robbery, third-degree felony unlawful acquisition or possession of a financial transaction card, as well as theft by receiving stolen property and unlawful detention, misdemeanors. Bear, 30, is charged with second-degree felony robbery and misdemeanor assault and unlawful detention.
Myers, 35, faces charges of second-degree felony robbery, misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor unlawful detention. Charges have been submitted for Upchurch, 22, whose condition was listed as critical on July 14, according to Tooele City Police.
The 20-year-old female victim has not been identified by police.
According to a probable cause statement from Tooele City Police, the robbery took place around 2:30 a.m. on July 12 near the intersection of 1000 North and Droubay Road. The victim contacted Bear for a ride and he arrived near the location to pick her up in a van, police said.
Myers, Upchurch and Kessinger were already inside the van when the alleged victim entered the vehicle, according to police. The victim was confronted by Myers and Upchurch, who demanded she give over her personal property to pay off an alleged debt, the statement said.
Myers took the victim’s phone and threw it to the front of the vehicle then she and Upchurch began to hit the alleged victim in the face, according to the statement. During the assault, the victim grabbed a pocket knife and stabbed Upchurch once in the chest, police said.
After the stabbing, Bear stopped the van, came to the rear of the vehicle and pulled the robbery victim from the van, placing her in a chokehold, the statement said. Another vehicle came in sight of the stopped van and Bear and the other alleged robbers fled the scene, leaving the victim behind, police said.
After abandoning the victim, Bear dropped off Kessinger with the victim’s stolen property. Kessinger admitted to police he went through the victim’s property and was in possession of some of the stolen goods, according to the probable cause statement.
Bear is being held in the Tooele County Detention Center without bail while he awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to felony theft charges in May. Myers and Kessinger are being held on $75,000 bail.
Bear will be in Third District Court on July 28 for a roll call hearing at 9 a.m. The duo of Myers and Kessinger are expected back in court for a roll call hearing on Aug. 11 at 9 a.m.