Toledo man gets 7 years for role in armed robbery

8/8/2008

One of two men convicted of robbing a man at gunpoint in central Toledo was sentenced to seven years in prison yesterday for his role in the crime.

Bobby Gittens, 19, of 3547 Hoiles Ave. was sentenced to four years for complicity to aggravated robbery, and to three years for a firearms specification. He pleaded no contest to the charges July 10.

Judge Gene Zmuda dismissed a felonious assault charge with a gun specification as part of a plea agreement.

Authorities said Roy Young was walking in the 400 block of Cumberland Place about

2 a.m. March 28 when two men grabbed him. One man pulled out a semiautomatic handgun, while the other demanded that Mr. Young surrender everything he had, then began searching his pockets.

The pair were arrested after Toledo police followed two sets of footprints in snow to a house at 3328 Glenwood Ave., where they were found hiding. Officers found a loaded semiautomatic handgun and ammunition. Police also found a bag containing crack cocaine in the front pocket of Darnell Walker, Gitten's co-defendant.

Walker, 18, of 321 Oconnell St. pleaded no contest July 10 to charges of aggravated robbery with a firearms specification and possession of crack cocaine.

An additional charge of felonious assault with a gun specification as well as charges of trafficking in cocaine will be dismissed when Walker is sentenced Monday. He faces up to 11 1/2 years in prison.

Gittens, who had obtained a new attorney after telling the court on July 28 that he wished to withdraw his plea, was sentenced yesterday after assuring the court he was instead maintaining his no-contest plea.