Gunman gets 24 years in store robbery, shootout

7/11/2001

Randy Blackman, 37, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the aggravated robbery of a carryout and a shootout with Toledo police and Lucas County sheriff's deputies.

Blackman, of the 1200 block of Belmont Avenue, was found guilty last month by Judge James Bates after entering an Alford plea in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to charges of aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and using a handgun to commit the crimes. An Alford plea allows a defendant to avoid a guilty plea, with the hope of avoiding a more serious penalty if found guilty of all pending charges. In this case, prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of fleeing and eluding.

Blackman used a gun March 8 to rob Mary Ann's Carryout, 8104 Dorr St., and struck a clerk with the weapon. As he was being chased by police, he fired five shots. His tires were slashed by a spike device deployed by police. Blackman then fired two shots at sheriff's Sgt. Charles Ghesquiere. The sergeant returned fire and hit Blackman in the foot.