A 19-year-old Federal Way man pleaded not guilty to first-degree theft after allegedly attempting to rob two buyers in an OfferUp deal, prosecutors say.

Jalen L. Womack, 19, pleaded not guilty on June 29. His next court appearance is at 1 p.m. July 27 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

On June 17, Womack met with the two buyers, a man and a woman, after he had advertised on OfferUp that he was selling a Gucci backpack for around $400, the charging documents said.

“The defendant deliberately set up the deal and remained in the vehicle to help effectuate his escape with the money and the backpack,” the documents said.

The two buyers agreed to meet Womack in the parking lot of the Commons Mall near the north entrance of the Macy’s department store. Womack remained in his vehicle as the victims interacted with him from outside of the car.

As the two buyers were holding the backpack, they handed Womack the cash. Then, Womack allegedly grabbed the backpack and pulled it before driving away at a high rate of speed while one of the buyers was still holding onto the bag, documents said.

Womack’s actions allegedly “put the victims at a high risk of serious injury.”

Both of the buyers fell to the ground and allegedly sustained injuries to the face, wrists and knees, according to the documents. Both people refused medical aid.

A nearby officer witnessed the victims chasing after the vehicle and was able to pull over Womack in the parking lot.

Womack was detained and allegedly admitted to the robbery after he had exchanged the backpack for $300.

“Womack stated he grabbed the backpack from the buyers, ran into this car and drove away,” according to the police report.

The man said he had given Womack $400, but Womack only turned over $300, and the fourth bill was not recovered from a search of Womack or his vehicle, the documents said. The $300 was returned to the man at the scene.

According to the documents, Womack has no other criminal history.