Man enters plea to robbery count in burglary case

7/28/2009

A Toledo man stabbed several times when he tried to burglarize a North Toledo home entered a plea to a robbery charge Monday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Fredrick Martin, 21, of 3140 Matson, Apt. 3, was convicted after entering an Alford plea before the start of his trial. Martin, who remains out of custody on electronic monitoring, faces up to eight years in prison when sentenced Sept. 11 by Judge Gary Cook.

Martin was found Jan. 11 in the 800 block of Woodward Avenue in North Toledo after he collapsed from several stab wounds. He was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where he was treated for serious injuries and was arrested Jan. 28.

James Vail, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, said Martin was inside an apartment in the 3000 block of Stickney Ave. about 3:30 p.m. when a father and son returned to find their door open. Martin held a gun, which turned out to be a pellet gun, on James White, Jr., 49, who in turn struggled with Martin.

James White III, 27, assisted his father.

The two men used a pocket knife and a 12 1/2-inch knife taken from Martin.

As part of the plea agreement, one count each of aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery will be dismissed at Martin's sentencing.

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.