Botched 2014 Santa Rosa robbery nets Oakland man 11 years in prison

An Oakland man who tried to rob a Santa Rosa jewelry store in 2014 but was shot along with an alleged accomplice during a gun fight with the owner was sentenced Friday to more than 11 years in prison.

Johnny Tasker Douglas, 35 was convicted in April of the attempted daytime heist at Bennett Valley Jewelers. Witnesses said he and Jimmy Lee Terry, 44, also of Oakland, barged in with guns and smashed display cases containing expensive Rolex watches.

The robbery was foiled when the owner emerged with his own gun and began firing. Terry is accused of using a store employee as a human shield as he tried to flee. He was shot and arrested at the scene.

Douglas was also shot but managed to escape. He was arrested three months later.

Criminal proceedings against Terry have been suspended to determine his mental competency.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.