Cottonwood Heights husband and wife charged with armed robberies

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — A Cottonwood Heights couple are accused of robbing a Subway and Payless ShoeSource store.

The husband and wife team, Amylee Howcroft and Joseph Despain, were both charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony.

Police say a woman wearing a dark hoodie and sunglasses robbed the Subway at 2424 E. Fort Union Blvd. on Aug. 15. Just one day later, a woman wearing similar clothes robbed the Payless ShoeSource at 7015 S. 1300 East. Employees told police the woman pulled out what resembled a firearm before she was given a small amount of money.

Police followed a tip that Howcroft, 37, and Despain were involved and executed a search warrant at their residence. Detectives found a ceramic handgun figure, as well as a hoodie and glasses similar to those store employees described the suspect as wearing, according to court records.

Despain told police that he drove his wife to the robberies and that he took his license plate off his truck beforehand, the charges state.

— Lana Groves