Lingerie, sex-toy store alleged robber charged after leaving hospital
June 24, 2015 by admin
Filed under Latest Lingerie News
MUSKEGON, MI – Paul Alan Columbus has been formally charged for the gunpoint holdup of a lingerie and sex-toy store two blocks from his home.
Columbus, 51, of Norton Shores, was arraigned Tuesday, June 23, on a charge of armed robbery, a potential life felony. He was charged as a fourth-time habitual offender.
Visiting Muskegon County District Judge Richard Kloote set his bond at $500,000 cash or surety and scheduled a preliminary hearing for 10:30 a.m. July 8.
Columbus was hospitalized for medical reasons until Monday evening, June 22, when he was returned to the Muskegon County Jail, authorities said.
Columbus was arrested about 11:30 p.m. Friday, June 19, after police coaxed him out of his home in the 5400 block of Grand Haven Road following a six-hour standoff. Columbus, who was unarmed and alone when arrested, surrendered after a Michigan State Police armored vehicle smashed in a window with a pole. No one was injured.
As of Tuesday, police had not requested criminal charges in connection with the standoff, according to Chief Trial Attorney Matt Roberts of the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police and prosecutors allege Columbus is the man who robbed Cirilla’s, a lingerie and sex-toy shop at 1050 E. Sternberg Road in Norton Shores, about 11:55 p.m. June 13. The store is near Columbus’ home.
Norton Shores police said a man robbed Cirilla’s at gunpoint while dressed in camouflage, wearing a mask. He made off with an undisclosed amount of money and fled on foot.
Police located Columbus at his home about 5 p.m. Friday, but he didn’t respond to repeated orders from law enforcement to come out of the house, nor would he answer phone calls, Norton Shores Police Chief Jon Gale said earlier.
Roberts said Columbus has felony convictions of larceny in 2006, uttering a false instrument in 2007 and possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon in 2007, all in Florida; and larceny in a building in 2012 and no-account check in 2013, both in Muskegon County.
John S. Hausman covers courts, prisons, the environment and local government for MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. Email him at jhausman@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter.
