Jovan David Wash will spend at least 25 years and up to 33 years in prison after a jury convicted him of three counts of felony robbery with a dangerous weapon in Rowan County Superior Court this week.

On March 29, 2006, employees at Eckerd drug store located at 640 Jake Alexander Blvd. in Salisbury reported a robbery. A man entered the store wearing a ski mask and demanded money while displaying a black semi-automatic handgun. The suspect jumped over the counter and pointed a gun at the employee. The employee placed money in a duffle bag and the suspect ordered the employees to put their hands on the wall and count to 50 while he fled.

On Oct. 3, 2006, officers responded to the Eckerd drug store at 1605 East Innes St. in Salisbury for a robbery. An employee reported a man entered the front door wearing a ski mask. The suspect jumped over the counter and displayed a dark colored semi-automatic handgun. He demanded the employee place money in a backpack and instructed the employee to face the wall and count to 50.

On Feb. 23, 2007, officers responded again to the Eckerd on Jake Alexander Boulevard to investigate a robbery. An employee reported a man came in with his face covered with a toboggan. The suspect had a handgun and demanded money and told employees to wait at least two minutes before they called police.

Investigators with the Salisbury Police Department contacted investigators with the Concord Police Department since they had developed Wash as a suspect in similar robberies. Investigators met with Wash, who initially denied being involved with any robberies, but he later confessed.

District Attorney Brandy Cook said she “appreciated the joint effort of the Salisbury Police Department, the Concord Police Department and Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould in helping remove a dangerous offender from our community.”