Police: Man Robs Man Uses Credit Card to Purchase Playstation and Cigarettes

Sign up for Ames Patch's free newsletter | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

A 24-year-old Ames man was charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of forgery and two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card for a robbery that was reported to Ames police in February.

Joshua Weatherspoon reportedly stole a credit card from a man in a robbery and used it about 30 minutes later to buy cigarettes and a game system, according to complaints.

Weatherspoon reportedly said “I'm going to rob this dude,” before walking up to a man who was walking home about 2 a.m. Feb. 15 and then struck him in the face, criminal complaints said.

Weatherspoon assaulted the man and said give me your money several times, according to complaints. The man gave Weatherspoon his credit card and Weatherspoon later used it to purchase two packs of Newport cigarettes from a gas station and a Sony playstation 3 and wireless controller from Wal-Mart, according to complaints.

The purchases were captured on video camera, and Weatherspoon's birthday was listed on the receipt for the cigarette purchase, complaints said. Police searched Weatherspoon's home June 11 and found the playstation, wireless controller and clothing that fit the description of what he was wearing the night of the robbery, complaints said.

Weatherspoon was arrested on the charges Thursday, June 13. He could spend more than 35 years in prison if found guilty of all charges. 

First degree robbery is a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. The forgery charges are Class D felonies punishable by up to five years in prison each.

Weatherspoon was being Friday June 14 in Story County Jail on a $100,000 bond.