NEW CITY – A Spring Valley man, who has nine prior convictions, was convicted after a jury trial in Rockland County Court to an attempted robbery at a Hillcrest convenience store in October 2010.

The jury found Edward Brims, 54, of 244 North Main Street with four counts of attempted robbery, one count of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of assault, all felonies.

Brims entered Guzzles store on North Main Street in Hillcrest and attempted to rob the owner at gunpoint. When the owner heard a “click,” he thought he was being shot and rushed Brims, who struck the victim several times with the gun, causing minor injuries.

During the struggle, the owner was able to remove Brims’ mask, which proved to identify him with DNA evidence.

Two months after the incident, police learned of his identity through the genetic evidence. Police attempted to apprehend him during a traffic stop on North Main Street, but he led them on a high-speed chase. The two mile chase ended when Brims hit a patch of ice and crashed the vehicle on Decatur Avenue in Spring Valley. No one was injured.

A search of the chase route uncovered a loaded 9 mm handgun, which police suspected Brims tossed from his vehicle during the pursuit. The gun matched the description of the weapon used in the attempted robbery of the grocery store. Brims’ DNA evidence was later found on the trigger.

Brims faces 16 years to life in prison when sentenced in March.

His nine previous convictions include felonies for robbery and escape.

Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said he is suspected of committing a string of armed robberies throughout the county in mid to late 2010.