Teen guilty in student’s assault, robbery

3/24/2013

A Toledo teen who assaulted and robbed a University of Toledo student-athlete pleaded no contest Friday to aggravated robbery in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Rodney Price, 18, of 1919 Cone St., was found guilty by Judge Stacy Cook, who scheduled sentencing for March 28. As part of a plea agreement, Price is to receive an eight-year prison sentence.

Price, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was certified to stand trial as an adult for the incident, which occurred Aug. 15 on Roosevelt Circle near the UT campus.

Mark Herr, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, said UT student Kristal Studer, 22, was walking to her home just before midnight when Price approached her, demanded money, and struck her on the back of the head.

Mr. Herr said the victim threw her purse under a vehicle and ran. Price was seen trying to reach under the car presumably to retrieve the purse when police arrived and he left in another car with his sister, Tierrica Price, who fled from police.

Also Friday, Tierrica Price, 20, of the same address was placed on community control for three years by Judge Cook.

She pleaded guilty last month to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer in the same incident.

Judge Cook ordered her to spend six months in the county’s work release program as part of her sentence.