Toledo pair sentenced for robbing 79-year-old

1/10/2012

A Toledo man and woman who orchestrated a scheme to rob an elderly woman of her purse were each sentenced in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Tuesday to community control, including time in an in-custody drug treatment center.

Arthur Cowell, 40, of 140 Licking St., and Jamie Gilliam, 33, of 1616 Freedom St., were each sentenced to four years of community control, including six months in the Correctional Treatment Center followed by six months in work release. Both men pleaded guilty to robbery on Nov. 22.

Authorities said Gilliam stole the purse from a 79-year-old woman on Aug. 16 in front of a business at 900 Starr Ave. The elderly woman was knocked down during the robbery but was not seriously injured.

Attorneys for the pair noted that neither had a felony record and that drug addictions were the impetus for the robbery. Both apologized for their actions.

Judge Myron Duhart labeled the pair “predators” who chose to prey on the weakest and most fragile members of society. He noted that if they violate conditions of community control they each will serve three years in prison.