Eddie Miguel Rivera

A Lawrence man arrested on suspicion of robbing a Presto gas station in January pleaded no contest to the robbery at a court appearance on Monday.

Eddie Rivera, 36, was arrested on Jan. 10 for the alleged armed robbery of a Presto gas station, 1802 W. 23rd St.

Cheryl Wright Kunard, assistant to the district attorney, said the judge ordered a pre-sentencing investigation for Rivera, who is scheduled to be sentenced at 11 a.m. June 17 in Douglas County District Court.

In court in February, store clerk Doug Walls said that a man in dark clothing with his face covered demanded money while displaying what looked like part of a handgun. “I’m going to need all the money out of the register,” Wells said the man told him. “Do I need to show you my gun?”

Wells said the man then ran east out of the store. Rivera was found about 30 minutes later in a nearby alleyway, according to police, who said Rivera also had a knife and a “wad of cash.” Two Lawrence detectives testified in February that a handgun-shaped BB gun was found nearby.

Police testified that gloves and a dark coat matching those described by Wells and seen on surveillance footage were found inside a car Rivera borrowed from his girlfriend, as were a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of Gatorade, which Wells said the robber took from the store.

Rivera is in the Douglas County Jail awaiting sentencing.