SALT LAKE CITY -- A Salt Lake City man has been indicted by a federal grand jury after allegedly robbing seven businesses along the Wasatch Front, including one in Layton. Matthew Colt McKean, 22, is accused of robbing the One Stop Smoke Shop, 2146 N. Main in Layton, as well smoke shops and dry cleaning establishments in Murray, West Valley City, West Jordan and Salt Lake County, between April 26 and May 11. According to court documents, in committing the robbery, McKean allegedly took an employee of the Layton business by physical force, "threatened force and violence and fear of injury." Melodie Rydalch, spokes-person for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said that in the federal court system, a grand jury is the mechanism used to determine that there is probable cause to bind a suspect over for trial, much as preliminary hearings are used in the district courts.

She said McKean's case is being considered in federal court because he allegedly brandished a gun in two of the robberies.

In federal court, robberies are charged as violations of the Hobbs Act, which states such crimes "obstructed, de-layed or affected commerce or the movement of articles or commodities in interstate commerce."

The maximum potential penalty of Hobbs Act violations is up to 20 years per count. The firearm counts carry maximum penalties of up to life in prison.

Rydalch said federal grand juries deal with between 10-20 cases similar to McKean's weekly.



mwilliams@davisclipper.com