The suspect in a six-day crime spree in Battle Ground late last spring has pleaded guilty to three charges and is now potentially facing more than four years in prison, court documents show.
On Oct. 4, Sabrina Cox, 19, of Battle Ground, pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicle prowling and identity theft as well as a count of second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission. The charges stem from a series of crimes starting May 27. Following Cox’s arrest June 2, the city of Battle Ground made an announcement stating there were at least 17 victims with 20 vehicles prowled and four stolen. Stolen credit and debit cards were used eight times.
Cox is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 6.
Crime spree recap
According to a probable cause affidavit for Cox’s arrest, there were at least eight reported auto prowls on the night of May 27 and early morning May 28, focused around the 200 block of Northeast Clark Avenue. The affidavit stated that three individuals were walking in the area around 2 a.m., May 28, when they were almost hit by a car, which was reported to have been driven by Cox.
Cox was an acquaintance of the three individuals who spoke to the suspect after she parked next to the former Rancho Viejo Sports Bar on Southeast First Street, according to the affidavit. Cox reportedly told the individuals about unlocked cars in the area, but the individuals did not want to get involved.
A vehicle stolen in one of the prowls was found in the 10000 block of Northeast 187th Street at about 9 a.m. May 28, parked in a ditch and marked as abandoned by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, according to the affidavit. Inside the vehicle was property belonging to a number of other vehicle prowl victims, including a handwritten note that referenced Cox’s first name.
The following day, six additional vehicles were reported to have been prowled in the Crystal Springs neighborhood early that morning, according to the affidavit, with multiple items including debit and credit cards stolen.
At about 5 a.m. a victim was assaulted as he attempted to remove a male from stealing his vehicle. A female was mentioned to be with the male suspect, who fled.
At about 7 a.m., Cox was spotted at the Chevron on East Main Street, seen on camera pumping gas into a stolen truck, according to the affidavit. About an hour later, the truck was called in as a suspicious vehicle at Hockinson Meadows Community Park outside of city limits, as a male was reportedly seen moving property from the truck into another vehicle.
At about 9:30 a.m., an emergency call came in reporting belongings dumped at Hockinson Meadows’ parking lot, later identified as being items from a previously reported carjacking. Shortly thereafter a reportedly stolen credit card was used at a Walmart in Wood Ridge, Oregon, by an individual recognized as Cox, according to the affidavit.
At about noon, the stolen truck was located at the park in a different position than when initially reported as suspicious, according to the affidavit, with property from the previous vehicle prowls found inside.
On June 2, Cox was arrested by Camas Police Department officers, according to the affidavit. A stolen phone turned over June 5 had evidence that Cox had used it as well as messages implicating her in the crimes.
