43
Suspects in armed robbery arraigned
The judge set bail totaling $355,000 against the two men.
YOUNGSTOWN — Two city men charged with the robbery of a local pizzeria both have violent criminal pasts.
Stanley Croom, 44, of Plazaview Court, has been charged with aggravated robbery and being a convicted felon in illegal possession of a firearm. He appeared for arraignment Wednesday before Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court.
Prosecutors told the court Croom has prior convictions for aggravated robbery and murder. A check of the state’s adult offender database shows Croom was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison in 1985 for two counts of aggravated robbery and murder.
He was paroled from prison in June 2008.
Judge Kobly set bail at $200,000 and appointed an attorney to represent Croom.
Jeffrey Shorter, 41, of Orange Avenue, is charged with aggravated robbery and obstruction of official business. He also was arraigned before Judge Kobly.
Prosecutors told the court that Shorter has previous convictions for aggravated robbery, robbery and theft.
Judge Kobly set bond at $155,000 and also appointed an attorney to represent Shorter.
They are charged in the reported armed robbery of the Belleria Pizzeria on Wick Avenue two days after Christmas.
According to police, one of the men went into the pizzeria just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday, grabbed an employee over the counter and pointed a handgun at the woman. The man ordered the employee to open the cash register and not to press any alarm buttons.
The man ran out of the store when the employee was unable to open the cash register.
Police, after an investigation and witness statements, arrested the two men on misdemeanor outstanding warrants and suspicion of robbery.
jgoodwin@vindy.com