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Phillip Herrera, 25, of 1813 George St., pleaded no contest to party to the crime of armed robbery with use of force in La Crosse County Circuit Court and will be sentenced Sept. 9.
An identical charge was filed against Jacob Ward, 22, and Parker Ostrander, 23, in the March 4 robbery at George Street Pub, 1728 George St.
Ward jumped behind the bar and grabbed two bank bags containing $1,606 from a cash drawer below the register, while Herrera blocked the doorway and pointed a pellet gun at customers, according to the criminal complaint. Ostrander supplied the gun, Herrera told police.
The trio hid the money, gun and clothing worn in a crawlspace under the basement steps of their home, the complaint stated. Police recovered the items and matched shoes to prints found at the tavern.
As part of the plea agreement, a misdemeanor charge of theft as a repeat offender against Herrera was dismissed but can be considered at sentencing.
Herrera had been accused of taking cash in December 2007 from Domino’s Pizza, where he was an assistant manager, according to the complaint.
Ward has a status conference set for Sept. 9, and Ostrander has the same hearing set for Sept. 10.
Anne Jungen can be reached at (608) 791-8224 or ajungen@lacrossetribune.com.
