Toledo man, 23, guilty of 7 counts of robbery

1/22/2009

A Toledo man charged with robbing several area businesses was found guilty of seven counts of robbery yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Jermaine Smiley, 23, of 3909 Airport Hwy., entered an Alford plea to the charges and faces up to 56 years when sentenced by Judge Gene Zmuda Feb. 9. Seven alternate counts of aggravated robbery will be dismissed when he is sentenced.

In an Alford plea, the defendant maintains his innocence or does not admit he committed a crime, but still pleads guilty because he decides it s in his best interest. The court treats it as a guilty plea.

Smiley was arrested in South Toledo on Sept. 16 after he was identified as a suspect in the robbery of a Dollar General store on North McCord Road. Authorities said he concealed his face with a towel and used a pellet gun to rob the stores.

Smiley was convicted of robbing several businesses, dating to Aug. 27.