A habitual criminal and “Crip” gang member was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a crime spree spanning Denver and Aurora that terrorized several people over one night last April.
Preston Dawayne Larry, 31, of Aurora pleaded guilty on April 28 to attempted first-degree murder. Arapahoe District Court Judge F. Stephen Collins sentenced him to the stipulated sentence of 40 years in the Department of Corrections.
Preston Dawayne Larry
Over about 12 hours starting the night of April 15, 2016, and into the early morning of April 16, 2016, Preston was involved in at least three armed robberies, including outside of the Roxy Theatre in Denver where he fired a gun. He then stole money at gunpoint from a cab driver who took him to Aurora. He was also charged with aggravated robbery for stealing money from a couple outside of an apartment in Aurora, near Colfax Avenue, earlier that evening.
The cases were linked in part by surveillance video in each city, some of which showed distinctive tattoos on Larry’s face and hands, and by cell phone location data from one of the cell phones that he stole from a victim.
Great detective work by Aurora and Denver police, and collaboration to charge the investigations as one case in the 18th Judicial District, led to an outcome supported by the many victims in the case.
“The prosecution of these crimes against innocent victims by a habitual felon and violent gang member was only possible because of the courage of the witnesses and coordinated efforts by DPD and APD officers,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Thomas Byrnes, who prosecuted the case.
Larry has prior felony convictions including drug crimes, eluding police officers, and weapons offenses.
“This is one guy who clearly should not be on the streets to terrorize innocent victims,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “We are glad to work with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer. This case was an excellent example of that collaboration at work.”
###