Nick Thomas Jr., the local man who entered a Quiznos sandwich shop in Jackson, robbed it at gunpoint and then brutally pistol-whipped a teenage girl, has been sentenced to six years in prison.

The crime occurred on the night of Dec. 2, 2008. Thomas, a 20-year-old man from Volcano, was dating a Quiznos employee named Caitlin McElwee. The two secretly conspired to rob the Jackson Quiznos. Thomas entered the sandwich shop on a foggy night just after closing. Pulling a pistol out, Thomas aimed the gun at a young female employee named Nessa Holtsman. He then struck Holtsman in the head with the gun, causing a concussion. The robbery and attack were captured on video surveillance cameras. McElwee, who was working at the sandwich shop when the crime occurred, was also captured on camera behaving suspiciously. Thomas fled the scene on foot with a sum of money.

The Jackson Police Department was contacted by a witness whose information implicated both Thomas and McElwee in the robbery. Detectives served a search warrant on Thomas's residence and discovered evidence that linked him to the crime. The detectives also found a note written by McElwee that implicated both her and Thomas in a prior theft. According to the Amador County District Attorney's Office, both Thomas and McElwee were spotted in a mall the night after the robbery, buying large amounts of clothing. It was also determined by investigators that McElwee had admitted to a co-worker that she and Thomas were involved in the robbery, and that she had left the Quiznos door open while she was working so that Thomas could enter.

Thomas's ex-girlfriend also told detectives that she'd heard Thomas make a statement implicating himself and McElwee in the robbery and attack on Holtsman. The pair was arrested by local law enforcement agencies. They were charged with robbery, assault with a firearm and special allegations of use of a firearm and causing great bodily injury. Thomas was also charged with two counts of commercial burglary and possession of stolen property.

In June, McElwee was sentenced to two years in state prison after she pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery.

Thomas later pleaded guilty to the robbery charge and admitted to causing great bodily injury to Holtsman. He will serve six years in state prison - 85 percent of the sentence being mandatory before eligibility for parole. The robbery convictions for both Thomas and McElwee are technical "strikes" under California's Three Strikes law.

Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe praised the work of the Jackson Police Department, particularly that of Detective Chris Mynderup. He also thanked his own Deputy District Attorney Steve Hermanson for the work he'd done in holding Thomas and McElwee accountable for their actions.