Armed robbery suspect has a lengthy criminal past

Idaho Falls police say Christopher Lee Derrick was a part of an armed robbery that took place in January.

Derrick was arraigned Friday afternoon on charges of felony robbery and felony use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a felony. The robbery charges carries a potential $50,000 fine and five years in jail. The weapon charge could add another 15 years of jail time.

A preliminary hearing in the case has been set for Feb. 16.

Local News 8/KIDK Eyewitness News looked into Derrick’s criminal record.

We found he has had many run-ins with Custer County Sheriff’s Office.

Oct. 19 2015, Derrick was charges with trespassing.

He pleaded guilty, didn’t get jail time but was sentenced to pay a $269.50 fine.

However, that is not the first time he did that.

Less than two months before on Aug. 28 2015 he was also charged with trespassing.

He pleaded guilty and the judge slapped him with a $564.50 fine.

As Local News 8/KIDK Eyewitness News dug deeper into his history we found it doesn’t stop there.

Derrick pleaded guilty to a drug related charge in 2012.

In 2011, he pleaded guilty to domestic battery or assault in the presence of a child.

In all of the cases he was required to pay a fine.

Custer County tells Local News 8/KIDK Eyewitness News Derrick is not up-to-date on paying those fines.

In fact, Friday, Feb. 5 was the last day Custer County allowed him to contact the clerks office to explain the failure of payment.

If he didn’t, the prosecutor is able to issue an arrest warrant.

Custer County Sheriff’s Office tells Local News 8/KIDK Eyewitness news Derrick is not a man who is afraid to go to jail

Previously a judge sentenced him to probation for a drug related charge.

After some time he decided he didn’t want to be on probation.

Custer County Sheriff’s Office says Derrick told them the reason was because he wanted to smoke marijuana.

Instead of staying on probation, Derrick decided to sit in the Custer County jail for 343 days.

It is illegal to smoke marijuana in Idaho, including the Custer County jail.