Robbery near UT yields 8-year sentence for teen

4/24/2009

A 17-year-old Toledoan who admitted to robbing six University of Toledo students at gunpoint and shooting at them, hitting one in the hand and shoulder, was sentenced to eight years in prison yesterday.

Ronald Cole, of 740 Turner Ave., who was certified to stand trial as an adult, apologized to his victims before being sentenced in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. His attorney said an older man coerced him into committing the robbery.

Cole pleaded guilty last month to two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of felonious assault, each with gun specifications. Judge Charles Doneghy sentenced him to five years for each charge, to run concurrently, plus a consecutive three-year mandatory gun specification.

Sixteen at the time of the incident, Cole approached the UT students on Sept. 28 just off campus on Broer Avenue and demanded money. He took money and possessions from two of the students and shot at the group as they fled. A 19-year-old UT marching band member was hit and has undergone several surgeries.