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Teenager faces list of charges
YOUNGSTOWN
Ajuante Toney just turned 18 less than one week ago, but he has racked up a list of adult charges that have landed him in the Mahoning County jail on a $100,000 bond.
Toney, of North Lakeview Avenue, appeared Monday before Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court for arraignment. He was arrested for his role in the late Saturday night robbery of a Belmont Avenue convenience store.
According to police, Toney and two male juveniles, both 17, went to the Ultimate Food Mart store on Belmont just after 10 p.m. Saturday and stood in front of surveillance cameras, blocking the view of a set of coolers. Toney allegedly took wine from one of the coolers and put the merchandise in his pocket before all three ran out of the store.
The store owner told police he followed the trio out of the store and demanded the wine be returned, but Toney turned to face him holding the wine in one hand and a firearm in the other. The owner went back to the store and called police.
Police found the trio a short distance away near a bar. No gun was found, but the pilfered alcohol was found in Toney’s possession.
All three were identified by the store owner. Toney was taken to jail, and the teens were taken to the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center.
Toney was in familiar surroundings on video arraignment Monday. He had just appeared before the same camera for video arraignment after attempting to steal a $100 pair of boots from a clothing store inside 20 Federal Place in downtown Youngstown on Thursday.
Police said Toney ran past officers and out the building’s side door with a store clerk chasing him saying he had just robbed the store.
Police arrested Toney two blocks away wearing one of the boots and one tennis shoe.
Toney had asked the clerk to try on the boots then ran out wearing one boot and one tennis shoe, but carrying the matching boot. He was released on his own recognizance pending a future court date.
During his arraignment before Judge Kobly on the convenience-store robbery, Toney asked the judge if he would be permitted to be released on house arrest.
“You have to be kidding,” the judge said. “Welcome to adult court. We don’t play here.”
Judge Kobly ordered Toney jailed on the $100,000 bond. She also appointed an attorney to handle the case after Toney said his only income is from public assistance.
Toney’s troubles with the law predate his 18th birthday Jan. 18. He was arrested for breaking and entering in January 2010 and is listed as a suspect in a robbery earlier this month where a 17-year-old boy was beaten and his property taken. The victim told police Toney was the attacker.