Woman gets over 3 years in prison for armed robbery of Bonney Lake cell phone store

Catch and release: 'I'm just seeing if I can go out on my last bail'

A woman accused in a Bonney Lake cell phone store robbery was charged with another crime while still in custody.

BONNEY LAKE, Wash. - The woman accused of robbing a cell phone store at gunpoint in Bonney Lake is has been sentenced to just under three and a half years in prison.

On Dec. 30, 2021, deputies say 31-year-old Tess Babauta, wearing a ski mask, walked into a Metro PCS store on 21195 State Route 410, gave the associate a note and displayed a handgun. The employee gave her approximately $1,000 from the register.

In January of 2022, she was able to identified and arrested thanks to FOX 13 viewers and work by a Bonney Lake PD Detective on the Auto Theft Task Force- Puget Sound.

On Nov. 8, Babauta pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery. She is expected to be sentenced anywhere from three to four and a half years in prison.

On Feb. 11, 2022, Bonney Lake Police arrested 38-year-old William "Matty" Watson in connection to that robbery. Police say he drove Babauta to the Metro PCS store and picked her up after she robbed it.