BEVERLY — A Beverly man who is charged with donning a skull mask and a hooded sweatshirt to hold up a Cabot Street convenience store last week, only to complain about how much was left in the register, is being held on $10,000 cash bail.
Joshua Machado, 27, of 6 Fossa Terrace pleaded not guilty during his arraignment yesterday in Salem District Court to Wednesday's armed holdup of the Tedeschi Food Store.
His attorney, Mark Barry, suggested that police have the wrong man — who was identified by the store clerk as his former paperboy and a past customer of both the Tedeschi store and Super Sub, where the clerk had also worked.
The clerk, 33, could not see the face of the man who brandished a gun and demanded the contents of the register and lottery machine late Wednesday night, according to a police report.
But several days later, he told police he had seen Machado outside the store earlier that night while he was taking out the trash. Machado was wearing black track pants with white stripes down the side like the ones the robber wore, the clerk said. He also said he recognized Machado's gait.
The clerk said he was inside the store shortly after 11 p.m., moving milk crates and other items, when he heard someone come in.
The robber brandished what the clerk described as a "large semiautomatic-style gun" and demanded money.
He told police that when he handed the robber between $150 and $200, the robber responded, "Oh (expletive), that's it?" and then ran off toward Edwards Street, which runs between Cabot and Rantoul streets.
Barry, the defense lawyer, noted a police report that said another man known to police for his prior criminal record was spotted about an hour before the holdup, wearing similar "track"-style pants. Police questioned that man, who denied that he was involved.
Police believe a pellet gun was used in the holdup; a piece of such a gun was found in the store after the robbery.
Machado was arrested Saturday after police obtained a warrant.
Machado is due back in court Nov. 23 for a probable-cause hearing.
Courts reporter Julie Manganis may be reached at 978-338-2521 or jmanganis@salemnews.com.
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
On Thailand Trip, Suu Kyi Visits Migrants
Raw Video: Pink Diamond Auctioned for $17.4M
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
