Kim may face up to 50 years in jail for Wild Quail robbery

Delaware State News

DOVER — A former Delaware State Police trooper who posed as a player in a February Wild Quail Country Club poker game pleaded guilty Thursday to his role in the armed robbery of the other 11 players, stealing $10,000, cell phones and credit cards.

Hyun-Jin Kim avoided trial in Kent County Superior Court by pleading guilty to first-degree robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Under Delaware sentencing laws, Kim, 27, of Dover, could face 50 years in prison, but prosecutors are recommending the minimum mandatory sentence of three years for each charge.

Kent County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Young ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for Nov. 13.

Initially considered a victim of the armed robbery, Kim, a two-and-a-half-year trooper, was linked to the crime through surveillance photos at the Camden Wal-Mart, and then, a store receipt at his home.

According to police and court documents, people gathered at Wild Quail Country Club weekly on Thursday nights for the past three years to play cards, betting money. The number of players varied from six to 12.

Court records state three men armed with two black handguns and a black pump-action shotgun entered the country club and robbed the players, then made the victims — including Kim — lie face down and "covered their heads with off-red colored pillowcases and bound their hands with black plastic zip ties."

Police tracked down the pillowcases to the Camden Wal-Mart and found surveillance photos of men who bought the items. One later was identified as Kim.

State police initially were not aware Kim was present at Wild Quail during the robbery. Court records state Kim left the country club before police arrived, telling the other victims he couldn’t be present when troopers arrived.

But other victims identified him as being present, leading to an internal investigation of the trooper’s actions.

Once police identified Kim in the enhanced surveillance photos from the Wal-Mart, they searched his home and found a receipt for the pillowcases in his car, as well house and car keys belonging to some of the card players.

In addition to 11 robbery charges, Kim was charged with wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, second-degree conspiracy and offensive touching.

Police also have arrested five other men in connection with the robbery, Timothy H. Longstreth, of Stone Harbor, N.J., Manuel L. Gonzalez, 21, of Glassboro, N.J., and Philadelphia brothers Addae C. Powell, Akau N. Powell and Jeffrey N. Powell.

Longstreth also pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of second-degree robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and second-degree conspiracy.

Kim has agreed to testify against the other four co-defendents.

State police superintendent Col. Thomas MacLeish, a member of the golf club where the robbery occurred, has said he had no knowledge of what a club employee described as regular weekly card games.

"We have worked hard as a division to move past this unfortunate event,’’ Col. MacLeish said Thursday.

"Mr. Kim’s choices and behavior are in no way a direct reflection on the men and women who are state troopers and who work to uphold the law and serve the citizens of Delaware daily.’’

Sentencing has been set for Oct. 30.