PANAMA CITY — Two men charged with robbing a local Zaxby’s where they were employed have pleaded no contest and been ordered to repay more than $5,000 taken from the business, according to court documents.
But neither of the men was ordered to serve additional jail time.
Zachary Lee Berido, 22, and Jonathan Reed Rice, 28, were sentenced to two years of probation, following an investigation by the Panama City Beach Police Department, and ordered to jointly pay back $5,238.
PCBPD investigators said when they interviewed Rice days after the January robbery of Zaxby’s, 9960 Hutchison Blvd., he confessed to being the masked assailant and implicated Berido in a conspiracy to rob the fried chicken business.
Berido and Rice, both of Panama City Beach, were employees of Zaxby’s at the time of the robbery, PCBPD investigators reported. Their investigation revealed the men also were roommates in a nearby condominium.
On Jan. 24 at about 11:15 p.m., PCBPD responded to a call from Berido during which he claimed he was robbed at gunpoint. Berido told officers a black male wearing a black jacket, black pants and a ski mask forced him to reopen the restaurant. Under the barrel of a gun, Berido said, the male made him open the office safe and then left him bound with duct tape. The assailant fled on foot through the back door after the robbery, police reported.
However, as investigators watched the business surveillance video, their suspicions rose.
“They were too dramatic,” said prosecutor Robert Pell. “It wasn’t realistic at all. (Berido) was flailing his arms all around but didn’t seem to really care too much about what was going on.”
PCBPD leaned harder on Berido and developed Rice as their suspect. Officers interviewed Rice and noticed he displayed similar characteristics to the robber. He was wearing the same shoes, had the same tattoo and also limped just like the masked man fleeing the Zaxby’s after the score.
Rice later confessed and implicated Berido as his co-conspirator.
Berido pleaded no contest to charges of principal to grand theft and false reports of crime. Rice pleaded no contest to principal to conspire in grand theft and commit felony wearing a mask. Since neither of the men had a criminal history, both of their adjudications have been withheld as they repay the $5,238, perform 50 hours of community service and serve two years of probation.