Karon Roylee Jones faces 12 years in prison for robbing a 98-year-old man on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, 2024.

He is found guilty of second-degree assault, first-degree robbery and identity theft after stealing the man’s wallet from his back pocket.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Andrew Wood, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement, “Mr. Leehan had the strength and fortitude to show up in court at 99 years of age and provide his account of the incident to the jury.  The verdict of the jury in this case is a testament to the incredible strength of Mr. Francis Leehan.”

What happened

Around 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 28, 2024, the 98-year-old man drove from his residence on Northeast 154th Avenue to a WinCo Foods located at 1222 N.E. 102nd Ave., Portland, according to court records.

As he walked through the parking lot, after going into the store, a gold Mercedes sedan parked next to his car, positioning the vehicle so its driver’s door was next to the man’s driver’s door.

The 98-year-old man returned to his car, Jones exits his Mercedes, and grabs the man’s wallet from his back pocket, according to court records. The man confronted Jones and grabbed his car door, calling for help while struggling to open the door.

Jones punched the gas and drove away, throwing the 98-year-old man onto the pavement, court records show. He suffered bruising and bleeding to his arms and hands, but did not break any bones.

Police arrested Jones the following day. Jones was previously convicted of two stranger rape offenses.