Walter Carter
One of four men arrested in connection with a June robbery of a medical-marijuana dispensary in Boulder has agreed to a plea deal that will keep him out of prison — despite his key role in the high-profile heist, according to Boulder police.

Walter Carter, 21, of Aurora, pleaded guilty to felony theft on Tuesday, and — in exchange for that plea — the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office dropped six other charges filed against him, including kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

Carter’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18, when he’ll be placed on probation, deputy district attorney Anne Pignatiello said. A judge will determine the length and conditions of his probation at the hearing, Pignatiello said.

The other men arrested in connection with the June 16 robbery of New Options Wellness Center, 2885 E. Aurora Ave. — Justin St. John, 29, Lamare McGee, 22, and David Henderson, 40 — have entered not-guilty pleas and are set for separate trials.

Pignatiello wouldn’t say why Carter’s case ended differently than his co-defendants’ cases, but that information will come out at the sentencing hearing, she said. Carter is being held at the Boulder County Jail in lieu of a $30,000 bond.

Carter is accused of entering the marijuana dispensary with McGee about 3:30 p.m., while St. John and Henderson waited in a get-away vehicle, according to police. McGee held onto a dispensary employee, allowing Carter to enter the “green room” and grab about 30 pint-sized jars of marijuana, packaged marijuana from a safe, $1,500 in cash from a register and surveillance equipment, police reported.

The men then ran to a waiting Cadillac Escalade, which took off out of Boulder on U.S. 36. Police arrested the four suspects within an hour and booked them into the jail on suspicion of numerous charges including conspiracy, robbery, second-degree kidnapping and forgery.

According to court records, Henderson drove the get-away Escalade, which he borrowed. St. John helped scout out the business and stage the heist, according to police.

St. John’s trial is scheduled for the week of Feb. 16, Henderson’s trial is scheduled for the week of Feb. 22, and McGee’s trial is scheduled for the week of March 1.

Before Carter’s arrest in connection with the Boulder burglary, he was on probation for separate burglary charges out of Arapahoe County, according to court records. He has a lengthy criminal history in the state, including restraining orders, driving violations, burglary and theft charges.