July 8, 2021
By News Director Jared Atha
A Clinton man along with a Sayre man are accused of working together and robbing the Sayre McDonald’s.
The long investigation into the crime revealed that 20-year-old William Carl Ernst of Clinton allegedly met with 21-year-old Christian Robert Paulino of Sayre behind the restaurant on the evening of January 12, 2020. At the time, Paulino was an employee of the business.
The two had allegedly planned to pretend as if Ernst was forcing Paulino back into the restaurant at gunpoint. This was carried out, and Ernst had allegedly held three other employees at gunpoint and proceeded to steal $1,200 of cash, before fleeing the scene on foot.
While searching the area, officers were able to obtain blue rubber gloves that may have been used during the robbery. The gloves were sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for DNA testing.
During the course of the investigation, authorities were made aware of Ernst’s possible involvement by an individual being held at the Washita County Detention Center, who claimed he knew that Ernst was responsible for the crime. The man would tell investigators that Ernst had bragged to him about the robbery, and stated that an employee of the restaurant had helped him.
Officers would also obtain security footage taken on the night of the robbery from neighboring businesses that showed both Ernst and Paulino meeting in a parking lot.
Authorities had also discovered that the two suspects had been in contact with each other via Facebook Messenger on the night of the crime.
On June 3, 2021, Ernst was arrested for an unrelated crime in Cordell where investigators were able to take a DNA sample from the suspect. According to the OSBI, the DNA profile obtained matched the DNA that was found on the rubber gloves.
Ernst was charged in Beckham County District Court with conjoint robbery, robbery with a weapon, feloniously pointing a firearm, and conspiracy.
An outstanding warrant for arrest was issued on Tuesday for Paulino. He has been charged with conjoint robbery, robbery with a weapon, and conspiracy.
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