Man charged for ramming APD cars skirted reduced felony sentences for months before latest arrest

Jason M. Robards appeared in court Friday on charges stemming from allegedly

in a Walmart parking lot on Sunday afternoon.

Charging documents outline a pattern of Robards' persistent efforts to skirt reduced sentences and circumvent enforcement measures in a series of felony cases dating back to September 2018.

Prosecutors say Robards, 35, was sentenced to Drug Court on March 11 while awaiting trial for three pending felony cases; a felony theft case from Sept. 11, 2018 which was later dismissed in a plea agreement; another multi-charge felony theft case from Jan. 1, 2019 in which three of five charges were dismissed by prosecutors; and a third felony theft case — also dismissed by prosecutors as a result of a March 11 guilty plea to second degree theft and violating conditions of release.

As a result of his plea agreement, rather than face prison time, Robards was sentenced to Anchorage Wellness Felony Drug Court —"a jail diversion program, offering intensive substance abuse treatment and community supervision to support the participant’s abstinence and recovery," according to the

website.

The criteria for the program which involves reduced sentences includes being "Charged with a felony drug or drug related charge" and "Assessed by an approved treatment provider as being the criteria for intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment."

The day after Robards' March 11 guilty plea, he was released into drug court and "promptly went MIA," according to prosecutors, with a bench warrant for his arrest issued on March 13.

Robards remained at large until March 18. He was released back into Wellness Court on April 3, but this time with GPS monitoring added as a condition of his participation.

On April 4, Robards cut off his ankle monitor and disappeared again.

In between April 4 and Thursday night, Robards racked up five additional felony charges including theft, vehicle theft, two charges of third degree assault, and failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, in addition to the previous charge of violating the conditions of release.

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Despite Robards' criminal history, which doesn't exist prior to September, 2018, prosecutors say his Pretrial Enforcement Division or PED score, used to determine bail amounts based on risk of re-offending or of not returning for court dates, "does not accurately reflect his danger to the community or his flight risk."

The state requested increased bail of $5,000 cash appearance and $5,000 cash performance consecutively for each of his two new felony cases.

Prosecutors also recommended GPS monitoring and 24/7 house arrest as conditions of his bail.