More arrests tied to Wilmoth’s alleged violent crime spree

By Stover E. Harger III

The South County Spotlight, Mar 3, 2010

Devin Wilmoth

Submitted photo / The South County Spotlight

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The Columbia County Sheriff's Office arrested two people Friday related to the ongoing criminal investigation stemming from the arrest of Devin Wilmoth on Feb. 11 on charges of robbing a truck and trying to shoot the driver in rural Columbia County.

Arrested were Ezra St. Helen, 23, of Rainier, and Darren Cornwell, 36, of Fairview, Wash.

Investigators believe Wilmoth, 26, of Clatskanie, is the central focus of the investigation. They say he, St. Helen and Cornwell are responsible for a string of violent crimes against county individuals.

“There’s probably a lot more under the surface here that we aren’t seeing yet,” said Sheriff Jeff Dickerson.

Investigators believe Wilmoth, St. Helen and an unknown woman went to a home in rural county on Jan. 20 and robbed the resident at gunpoint. The male victim was known to at least one of the suspects, who got away with $1,500. The investigation shows the motive was to take drugs and money from the victim, who was unconvinced to surrender the cash until Wilmoth fired a shot at him.

On Jan. 27, investigators believe the suspects, along with Cornwell, returned to another residence they had previously burglarized and robbed the male victim again of $2,500. They also attempted to kidnap him, police say, but he escaped.

That same day, the suspects are believed to have accosted the male victim they had robbed of $1,500 on Jan. 20, tackling him as he attempted to get away taking $50 from him. They also attempted to kidnap this victim, but he, too, escaped into the woods nearby, investigators say.