Pawnbroker Sentenced To 3 Years For Robbery

A judge has sentenced a wealthy Bellevue pawnbroker to three years in prison for his role in a string of violent robberies six years ago.

But 38-year-old David Israel will remain free while he continues to fight the case because the judge allowed him to post $200,000 bail pending appeal.

Israel was convicted in March of kidnapping, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and money laundering.

But King County Superior Court Judge Charles Mertel yesterday ordered a new trial for the robbery and kidnapping charges after a co-defendant, Vincent Bryant, came forward claiming Israel was innocent.

However the judge let stand the conspiracy and money-laundering charges.

Prosecutors alleged Israel, then president of the Pawn X-change chain, enlisted Bryant and Willie James King, 36, to rob Jerry and Angelina Burtenshaw of Mercer Island, friends of Israel's family. The Burtenshaws were beaten and locked in the trunk of their car as the robbers made off with $500,000.

King is serving a 16-year sentence. Bryant, who is in prison on unrelated convictions, is awaiting trial.

Israel maintains Bryant falsely implicated him because he refused to move the loot through his pawn stores.

Yesterday, Deputy Prosecutor Barbara Mack asked the judge for an exceptionally tough 7 1/2-year term, arguing that three years "doesn't adequately punish David Israel for his role in these crimes."

Israel's lawyer, Marcus Topel of San Francisco, asked the judge for leniency. His family tearfully asked for no prison time at all.

"They have made a horrible mistake; he's not guilty," Israel's wife, Julie, said.

Mertel disagreed. Israel, he said, should pay for "the lifelong scarring and the pain and agony of the families they had to go through because of these terrible crimes."