Pair get probation for crime spree

Two men involved in a string of May 2007 armed robberies of convenience stores will spend the next seven years on probation.

Marc Nathan Matthews, 26, and Richard Gordon Dilka, 21, each were sentenced to seven years at the Montana Department of Corrections - with all that time suspended - during separate hearings Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

"This was a very serious offense with very serious consequences and although you may not see it this way this is a break," District Court Judge Ted O. Lympus told Dilka.

Matthews and Dilka both have testified that a third man, 36-year-old Royden Johnson, was the main participant in the robberies.

Matthews and Dilka helped prosecutors build a case against him.

Johnson pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, a felony.

In exchange for the men's guilty pleas and testimony against Johnson, prosecutors recommended Matthews and Dilka be sentenced to no additional jail time and probation.

The Flathead County Attorney's Office also agreed to dismiss three counts of robbery against Matthews, who pleaded guilty to accountability to robbery, and one count of robbery against Dilka, who then pleaded guilty to the remaining count of robbery.

"Obviously these were very serious offenses during which somebody could have gotten killed," Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan said.

According to court documents, Johnson, Matthews, and Dilka attempted to rob Junction Gas and Groceries on U.S. 2 in Columbia Heights on May 21, 2007. Johnson went into the store with a red bandanna over his face and pointed a gun at the clerk. Matthews, who owned the getaway car, and Dilka stayed in the vehicle.

The clerk hid, and Johnson fled from the store without getting any money.

Forty minutes later and 20 miles away, Johnson, Matthews and Dilka successfully robbed the Woodland Qwik Stop on Woodland Park Drive.

Johnson entered the store, again with a red bandanna, and pointed a revolver at the clerk. Matthews and Dilka again stayed in the getaway car.

The trio escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, but Matthews testified he received about $100 and Dilka testified he received about $50.

Two days later, Johnson entered the Kum 'n' Go convenience store on U.S. 93 South in Kalispell, police said.

He allegedly pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the clerk and demanded money from the register.

The clerk refused and was on the phone with police as Johnson bolted through the door.

Matthews was in the car at the time of the third robbery, but may not have known what Johnson had planned to do, court documents suggest. Dilka was not involved.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com