A man charged with robbing money, beer and cigarettes from a 7-Eleven by knifepoint will face trial at the Ector County Courthouse Wednesday morning.
Douglas Skaggs, 57, was first charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, last March, and was indicted by a grand jury in June. He will face trial at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the 244th District Court of Judge James Rush. Court records list Luis Chavez as his court-appointed attorney.
Police were first called about the robbery last March at 7-Eleven, 4525 E. University Blvd. A probable cause affidavit stated that the 47-year-old store clerk Lori Pena told officers a suspect had walked into the store, placed a 12-pack of Budweiser beer on the counter and pulled out a knife.
Skaggs then reportedly demanded the clerk give him the money out of the register, along with five packs of Marlboro Red 100s, the document detailed, stuffing the money down the right pocket of his pants before leaving.
Video surveillance showed Skaggs driving away from the scene in a 2008 Ford F-150 pickup with a missing front bumper, the report stated, which was spotted by detectives about an hour after the robbery at 1101 E. 42nd St. There, Skaggs was detained and soon positively identified by the store clerk working at the time of the robbery.
Jail records show Skaggs has remained in the Ector County Detention Center since first being arrested, and has three bonds totaling $225,000.
Should Skaggs be found guilty of aggravated robbery, he could be sentenced anywhere from five to 99 years in prison.
Skaggs is also facing a separate and unrelated charge accusing him of slamming his wife on the floor and strangling her to the point of unconsciousness during an argument three months prior to his arrest.
Police charged Skaggs with assault by strangulation, a third-degree felony, and he has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for the charge on May 24 in the 244th District Court.
