The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

The man who robbed the Holiday gas station while wearing a gorilla mask one year ago was convicted last week but will serve no further jail time.

Robert Allen Higgins, 40, of Fergus Falls, was convicted for first degree aggravated robbery. He had a prison sentence stayed pending 20 years of probation and must pay a $1,000 fine, part of which may be paid off by community service. Higgins had served 375 days in jail by the day he was convicted (Oct. 11).

Higgins robbed the Holiday station shortly before 1 a.m. on Oct. 4, 2011, according to court records. He arrived at the gas station wearing a gorilla mask and brandished a serrated butcher knife about 10 inches in length, threatening to cut or kill the night shift employee if he didn’t give Higgins the money in the cash register.

Higgins was apprehended to the east of the gas station not long after the initial 911 call. Police found about $120 on his person. Higgins admitted to the burglary and said he had planned to use the money to pay off bills before killing himself, either by provoking a police officer to shoot him or by jumping off the Court Street bridge. Higgins told police he had not meant to hurt anyone, and he wrote an apology letter to the employee he’d robbed.