This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 11:41 AM- A Utah teenager known for acting roles in Disney's "High School Musical" and as a quirky medieval warrior in anti-tobacco television commercials has been sentenced to a year in jail for robbing a Holladay pizza shop at gunpoint in May.
3rd District Court Judge Robin Reese recently ordered 19-year-old Dutch Elijah Whitlock to pay a $750 fine, $115 in restitution and $200 in attorney fees as punishment for the May 15 robbery at Five Buck Pizza.
Whitlock allegedly brandished a black revolver and escaped with an undisclosed amount of money during the robbery of the pizza shop at 1775 E. Murray Holladay Road, according to charging documents. Whitlock, an ex-employee of Five Buck Pizza, was recognized by a former co-worker during the holdup, the documents state.
He pleaded guilty in July to third-degree felony attempted robbery.
Reese placed Whitlock on probation for 3 years and ordered him to complete substance abuse treatment. Whitlock was granted a credit of 117 days for jail time already served.
Utahns may recognize Whitlock's portrayal of a medieval warrior in an anti-smoking campaign sponsored by Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control. He played "Svarnik" in the organization's "Svarnik and Byll" advertisements. He also had a small role as a "skater dude" in the 2006 hit movie "High School Musical."
-Melinda Rogers