Man Sentenced To Four Years For Convenience Store Robbery With Toy Gun
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By Alric Lindsay
Today, April 10, 2026, Justice Richards sentenced Diego Alexander Bodden to 48 months’ imprisonment in the Grand Court for robbing a West Bay convenience store cashier at gunpoint with a toy gun, an offense the court linked directly to a lifelong struggle with drug addiction that began in childhood.
Bodden, who pleaded guilty to robbery, admitted he entered the 24-hour store on Town Hall Road around on December 12, 2024. Wearing a mask, he followed another customer inside, drew what appeared to be a pistol from his jacket, pointed it at the cashier, and demanded she open the register. He fled with approximately $150 in cash.
The victim, who was working the overnight shift alone, experienced intense fear during the incident. A victim impact report from the Department of Community Rehabilitation detailed ongoing emotional distress: she remains hypervigilant, anxious around people in masks or hooded clothing, and continues working in constant fear.
During sentencing, Justice Richards described the offence as serious and premeditated, noting the early-morning timing, the mask, and the production of the imitation firearm to enforce compliance and instill immediate fear.
The social inquiry report painted a “grim picture” of Bodden’s background. Reportedly, Bodden reported a difficult childhood marked by exposure to drugs and alcohol, family dysfunction, and an unsupportive environment.
It was emphasized that Bodden was introduced to drugs by family members from a very young age, including being used to make deliveries and collect money. He began using ganja and cocaine early and continued into adulthood, often as self-medication for underlying depression. At 18, the murder of one brother led to increased alcohol misuse. By the time of the offense, he was a drug addict in denial, unable to hold steady employment despite intermittent work, and trapped in a “vicious cycle” where he needed money for drugs to simply feel normal.
In her analysis of the sentence, Justice Richards said the starting point was five years (60 months). Justice Richards then considered mitigating factors—including no previous convictions, family trauma (including his brother’s death and grandmother’s passing), early drug exposure, expressed remorse, and steps toward rehabilitation in custody. Based on the foregoing, Justice Richards reduced the sentence by seven months to 53 months. A late guilty plea attracted a discount, resulting in a final term of 48 months’ imprisonment. Credit was given for time served on remand and time on electronically monitored bail curfew.
