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Jefferson County Craigslist robber pleads guilty, faces at least 32 years in prison

Posted at 3:54 PM, Nov 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-07 17:54:12-05

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. – One of the men who robbed a man after arranging a deal over Craigslist pleaded guilty Monday to six counts in the crime, and faces at least 32 years in prison.

David Ernest Mascarenas, 56, pleaded guilty Monday in Jefferson County court to aggravated robbery, first-degree burglary, motor vehicle theft, identity theft, menacing and false imprisonment in the case.

Mascarenas and his accomplice, David Martinez, met a Federal Heights man at his apartment in January 2016 under the guise there was going to be a deal for items the man was selling on Craigslist.

But according to police and prosecutors, Mascarenas and Martinez instead tied the man up at knife- and gunpoint. They proceeded to steal wallets, purses and electronics from the man’s apartment, and according to prosecutors, were in the process of stealing the man’s vehicle.

But the victim was able to free himself from the restraints, and went outside and confronted the men as they were trying to make off with his car. The homeowner shot the man – later identified as Martinez, who died of his injuries. Prosecutors said that Martinez had pointed a gun at the homeowner before he was shot.

The homeowner was not charged in the shooting of Martinez.

But Mascarenas used the victim’s credit cards at an ATM, and police identified him through surveillance images. He was arrested two days later.

Mascarenas will be sentenced Dec. 9, and faces between 32 and 40 years in prison.