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Pretrial set for 2 held in vets jar robbery
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Ayasha Cummings
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Angelo Pappalardo
By Elise Franco
Austintown
The two women accused of stealing more than $500 from a veterans group remain in jail.
Ayasha Cummings, 25, and Jasmine Jenkins, 28, both of Youngstown, appeared Monday for arraignments before Judge David A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown.
Cummings is charged with aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property, and Jenkins with complicity to aggravated robbery. The pair were unable to enter pleas because the charges they face are felonies.
Both women requested court-appointed council and will return to court at 9 a.m. Wednesday for a pretrial hearing.
The women, who remain in Mahoning County jail on $100,000 cash surety bonds, were charged Saturday after Cummings was accused of taking a collection jar containing $531 from a table outside the Walmart SuperCenter in Austintown.
Army veteran Angelo Pappalardo, 78, who has collected donations for Veterans Outreach for the past four years, said he was at the table outside the store when Cummings came by and wiggled the jug.
He said he asked her to leave, but several hours later she came back — this time ripping the jug, which was bolted down, from the table and running with it.
Cummings and Jenkins, who was charged as an accomplice, attempted to drive away but were blocked by several people who witnessed the crime, police said.
Pappalardo said he continues to feel thankful to everyone involved in apprehending the two women.
“I called the authorities, and I thanked them for their quick services getting there,” he said. “I’m thankful for everyone coming together and helping me and helping the veterans out. I’m glad they’re caught and we’re seeing justice done.”
Cummings’ charge of receiving stolen property was added after police found a stolen wallet that witnesses said they saw her toss in a trash bin at the scene.