WATERFORD TWP. (WWJ) - An ex-con accused of breaking in to at least four businesses is behind bars in Oakland County.
Sheriff's investigators say 50-year old Richard Jefferson of Pontiac was arrested in Flint.
During interviews with detectives, police say Jefferson confessed to stealing about $3,000 over the past three weeks. The robberies happened:
• December 23, 2018 – Rite Aid – 1100 Block of Baldwin Road, Pontiac - $900 Taken• January 7, 2019 – Thrifty Florist – 200 Block of South Telegraph, Pontiac - $150 Taken• January 7, 2019 – 7-Eleven – 1100 Block of Baldwin Road, Pontiac - $200-$300 Taken• January 14, 2019 – TCF Bank – 2100 Block of Dixie Highway - $1400 Taken
No injuries were reported in the robberies.
"This career criminal is now behind bars without further harm to our community," Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement.
Jefferson was arraigned Friday in the 50th District Court in Pontiac on three counts of armed robbery, which carries a life sentence. Bond was set at $75,000. He was also arraigned in the 51st District Court in Waterford Township on bank robbery charges and given a $250,000 bond. He's due back in court for a probable cause hearing January 29.
Jefferson has an extensive criminal background including possession of a controlled substance, retail fraud, robbery, and four different convictions of unarmed robbery in various jurisdictions in Oakland County, including a 2008 armed robbery of the same Thrifty Florist in Pontiac.