Bend teen sentenced to prison in Eugene robberies

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A young Bend woman has been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for a series of armed robberies in Eugene.

Prosecutor Stephen Morgan says Elaine Jeffers, who turned 18 last month, stabbed one of the seven victims during the holdups last February.

The Register-Guard reports Jeffers was 17 at the time and will initially will be held by the Oregon Youth Authority. She apologized in court Tuesday.

Authorities say two Prineville boys stole a pickup in their hometown and drove to Bend, where they picked up Jeffers and her then-boyfriend. The four committed robberies in the Portland area before traveling to Eugene.

Morgan says the victims of the Eugene crimes told investigators that Jeffers was “the primary initiator.” The teenagers were arrested after a police pursuit, during which Jeffers drove the stolen truck.

Jeffers pleaded guilty last month to first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, unauthorized use of a vehicle and attempting to elude police. Because she was a juvenile at the time, she will be held by the OYA and transfered to an adult prison by the time she’s 25.

All three males previously pleaded guilty in the case.

Dakota Tucker is serving a nearly 12-year sentence and Dustin Fisher was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. Jeffers’ then-boyfriend, Eli Johnson, 19, was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison.

It’s unclear why they carried out the robberies in which items of relatively minimal value were stolen, such as cellphones, headphones and cigarettes.
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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com