3 men plead guilty in Boardman robbery

The armed robber should get four years in prison, a prosecutor says.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Three young men have pleaded guilty this week to charges arising from the robbery of a Boardman payday cash advance business.

The charges stem from the Jan. 14 robbery of Central Cash on Market Street.

Mark C. Watts, 18, of Cleveland, the gunman who was indicted for aggravated robbery, pleaded guilty Monday to the reduced charge of robbery.

Ross Smith, assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, said he is recommending a four-year prison term for Watts when Judge Timothy E. Franken sentences him at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 8.

Noah Williams, 19, of Kent, also indicted for aggravated robbery, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a reduced charge of robbery, and the prosecution is recommending probation for him when he is sentenced at a later date.

Watts and Williams have no prior criminal record, Smith said.

A third suspect, Donte L. Cole, 23, of Cleveland, also pleaded guilty Wednesday and was sentenced immediately to two years’ probation.

A receiving stolen property charge against Cole was reduced from a fifth-degree felony to a first-degree misdemeanor, and a third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence was reduced to obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor.

If Cole violates probation, Judge Franken said Cole will be jailed for nine months.

Watts spoke to a Central Cash employee about a transaction, said he didn’t want any trouble and lifted his shirt to expose the butt of a gun before an employee gave him cash from the register, a police report said.

Williams was the driver of an SUV used as the getaway vehicle, and Cole allegedly took and stashed the loot in the back of the vehicle when police stopped the SUV containing the three men and arrested them after the robbery, Smith said.