A Contra Costa County Superior Court jury on Wednesday convicted a 27-year-old Oakland man on four counts of armed robbery for stealing high-value watches as well as for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, prosecutors said.
Shane Ivan Downs was charged with seven felonies related to a series of armed robberies in 2020 and 2021.
In each incident, a masked Downs followed his victims from a public place to their homes, where he robbed them at gunpoint — usually of high-end watches worth $3,500 to $15,000.
On April 18, 2021, Downs followed a victim from Walnut Creek to her home in Oakley, where he flashed a handgun and stole her Rolex watch.
Later that day, he followed another victim from Walnut Creek to Concord, where he pointed a gun at the victim’s head, struck them, and robbed them of a Panerai Luminor watch.
On May 24 of that year, Downs followed a third victim from Danville to Walnut Creek, then robbed them of their Rolex at gunpoint. Six days later, Downs followed another victim from a Walnut Creek shopping area to the victim’s home, where he again brandished a gun and stole a Tag Heuer watch, prosecutors said.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday it built its case against Downs through vehicle information, search warrants, cellphone records, and surveillance.
Despite a similar mode of operation to the four other robberies, the jury didn’t find sufficient evidence to convict Downs of charges related to a July 2020 robbery in Orinda.
Prosecutors said Downs faces potentially significant state prison time for his offenses. He’s scheduled for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in Martinez.
Conviction is good – what’s the sentence? …. 1yr then probation? Please continue reporting on this case
“He’s scheduled for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in Martinez.” If you really want to know, go.
Two comments. 1). This is not a case for a lenient sentence. The DA has to ask for maximum sentence, and the judge has to come down hard. 2). My takeaway: Keep my Rolex (which I inherited) in a drawer, never to see the light of day again. Or maybe drop my sentimentality and just sell it.
Wearing a rolex is pathetic, it’s the peak the conspicuous consumption. It keeps less accurate time than a $8 casio quartz watch, but what it really does is make you a target for mugging.
The best part is that the watch on your wrist, grandma or grandfather, is most likely a counterfeit made in China. You were defrauded and are wearing a counterfeit with at least 90% certainty.
It should be 3 Strikes and your out!
Armed robbery, or any crime involving a gun, should be one strike and you’re out.
Redistribution