Judd Pleads Guilty to Violent Robbery at Northwest Yeshiva

A Mercer Island man faces nine years in state prison after offering a guilty plea for sending an elderly man to the hospital after .

Webster Wood Judd will face sentencing Aug. 5 for first-degree robbery in an April 5 attack of an 84-year-old Seattle man who was picking up his twin daughters from . Judd threw the man to the ground, causing a deep cut and bruising on the victim's face, and then ran off, according to witnesses.

The attack was captured on the school's surveillance video, and — familiar with Judd from earlier incidents — recognized him. He was arrested two days later. 

Judd, 47, entered an Alford Plea in King County Superior Court June 20. An Alford Plea means that the defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that it is likely they would be convicted.

According to the plea agreement, Judd also plead guilty to the illegal possession of a firearm, and possessing and trafficking stolen property. His long criminal history — including nine prior felony convictions dating back to when he was a teenager in 1983 on a minor in possession charge — will be weighted against him. 

"This a very good result," said King County Assistant Prosecutor Ian Goodhew. "It will mean that our victim won't need to testify, and will have some measure of justice."

Goodhew said his office believed Judd displayed the behaviors of a classic drug seeker — in his case, cocaine.

"He needs money for drugs and he would do what ever it takes to get the money," he said. "He was clearly at the point where he decided to get violent to get what he wanted."

In addition to the prison time, Judd must pay at least $20,000 in restitution and no contact orders for the victim and another man. Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Sharon Armstrong in King County Superior Court 11 a.m. on August 5.