Toledoan back in jail after robbery

Man gets 4 years for stealing, injuring store worker

Dennis F. Thompson.

Just 12 days after being released from an Ohio prison, a Toledo man was in trouble again, this time for stealing from a local drug store and injuring an employee on his way out the door.

Dennis F. Thompson, 34, of 605 Buckeye St. pleaded guilty Monday to robbery and was sentenced to four years in prison by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Dean Mandros.

Thompson, imprisoned for 18 months for a 2012 bank robbery, told the judge he was trained and earned a commercial driver’s license while he was in prison but didn’t pursue a job in that field when he was released May 29.

“I’m kicking myself in the butt,” Thompson said, after apologizing for his actions. “I didn’t even give myself a chance, but I should have.”

Matt Simko, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told the court that on June 10, Thompson went into a Walgreens Pharmacy at 925 Woodville Rd., began walking out with a basket of toiletries he hadn’t paid for, then handed the basket to an employee who was near the door.

Mr. Simko said after the employee got a hold of the basket, Thompson grabbed it back “in such a forceful manner” the basket’s metal wire cut into her skin, causing a wound that required 23 stitches in her finger.

Judge Mandros said he couldn’t find the right adjective to describe Thompson’s situation.

“Ten days after being released you end up facing a potential eight-year sentence for what was essentially … an aggravated shoplifting situation,” he said. “Nonetheless, someone was seriously injured by your conduct.”

“He has some skills,” defense attorney James Anderson told the court. “He’s got some abilities, and he’s got some opportunities so we are hopeful that when that day comes he will make good of it.”

Judge Mandros told Thompson he would consider a motion for early release at some point in the future, but would make no promises he would grant it.

Last year, Thompson pleaded guilty to robbery for holding up Key Bank, 324 Main St., in November, 2012, for which Judge Frederick McDonald gave him the 18-month prison sentence.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.