FELLSMERE — An 18-year-old man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 2018 robbery where he stole cash and pizzas from a Papa John’s deliveryman while armed with a shotgun, Fellsmere police said.
NOE MONTIEL PHOTO PROVIDED BY FELLSMERE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Noe Montiel, of the 10000 block of Esperanza Circle, was originally charged with robbery with a firearm and wearing a mask while committing an offense in the August 2018 incident. Montiel, who had been jailed since then, pled no contest to the charges July 11 in court during the sentencing.
Montiel was given 315 days credit for time served at the Indian River County Jail, police said.
“We are very pleased with this sentence. The victim in this case feared for his life and Noe Montiel is responsible for that. He is now going to be held accountable for his actions,” Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry said.
“This is also a case where a very courageous 15-year-old witness provided critical information that led to Montiel’s arrest. This witness remained committed to testifying in court, but was spared that experience as a result of this plea.”
Montiel was 17 years old at the time of the robbery, but was tried as an adult because of his criminal history, police said. The robbery happened about 10:20 p.m. August 9 a few blocks down from Montiel’s residence.
The deliveryman told police a teenager, later identified as Montiel, approached him from behind.
Montiel “racked a round in the shot gun” and told the deliveryman, “Give me all the money and the pizza,” reports show. The deliveryman gave Montiel two large pizzas and his wallet containing $60, police said.
Montiel ordered the deliveryman to lie on the ground and count to 90, officers said. Then, Montiel fled the scene.
The deliveryman, who was not hurt, ran to a nearby restaurant to report the robbery, police said. The day of the incident, Montiel told a witness he planned the robbery because he needed money, reports show.
Montiel said he was “going to wait for someone to rob them, but he didn’t know if he was going to beat them up or kill them,” authorities said.
Police later learned Montiel used a phone app called “TextMe” to place the order under a fake name. Officers used the app to track Montiel, found him a few days later at his home and arrested him, police said.
