'Not guilty' tattoo identifies armed robber

[emmy]

An armed robber who displayed a tattoo bearing the words "not guilty" while bungling a raid on a supermarket has been jailed.

Detectives say Samuel Worlin Moore's ironic tattoo made him memorable to witnesses has pleaded guilty to an armed robbery attempt at the Sav-A-Centre store in Long Beach, California.

Police said staff at a nearby petrol recalled a man with the same "not guilty" tattoo as Moore buying a soft drink and leaving $200 on the counter on the day of the robbery. The man came rushing back into the store for his misplaced money. A store video camera recorded the incident.

Moore left the convenience store and went to the grocery store, where he demanded money from a cashier and threatened staff with a gun. He ran when a customer came up to the register.

Moore's criminal history includes charges in New Jersey, where he was convicted of burglary, shoplifting and possession and distribution of an imitation drug. The latter charge involved baking soda passed off as cocaine.

Circuit Judge Jerry O Terry has sentenced Moore, 26, of Long Beach, to 12 years in prison for the attempted robbery. However, the judge suspended eight years of it and ordered Moore to serve four years, followed by five years of supervised probation, reports Twincities.com