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Krichbaum gives Townsend tongue-lashing, 4 years for role in robbery
YOUNGSTOWN
A judge gave a tongue lashing to a man before he sentenced him to a four-year prison term for his role in the robbery of a Boardman restaurant employee earlier this year.
Dwayne Lamont Townsend Jr., 22, of Youngstown, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of robbery outside the International House of Pancakes on U.S. Route 224 restaurant. He appeared Tuesday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Townsend, represented by Atty. David Betras, read a prepared statement but quickly was interrupted by the judge concerning some of the wording in the statement.
“I just want to give my sincerest apology to you and the city for any inconvenience I caused. This is a mistake I made and will not make again ...” was as far as Townsend got in his statement before Judge Krichbaum interrupted.
“This is a deliberate, vicious and dangerous act you did; it’s not a mistake,” the judge said. “When you characterize it that way, it offends me. Don’t call this a mistake. It offends me and offends my intelligence.”
Townsend went on to apologize and told the judge he will not appear before him again for any future crimes.
Martin Desmond, an assistant county prosecutor, recommended a three-year sentence for Townsend just as he did with the two co-defendants. The maximum time Townsend could have received was eight years in prison.
Townsend previously had been arrested on charges of possession of drugs and obstruction of justice. He was on probation when the robbery took place.
Judge Krichbaum also ordered Townsend to serve three years’ parole upon being released from prison.
Townsend will be given credit for the 161 days he has spent in the county jail.
The co-defendants — Bianca L. Santos, 20, and Angel M. Cruz II, 23, both of Boardman — both have been sentenced to four years in prison for their roles in the crime.
According to police, an IHOP employee said two men approached him as he left the restaurant about 11:40 p.m. April 3, brandished guns and took the night-deposit bag that contained about $300.
An officer who responded to the call made an investigative traffic stop in the area when he saw a vehicle and passengers who matched the suspects’ descriptions.
The officer found the passengers breathing heavily and in plain view saw a deposit bag. A search of the car turned up what was believed to be a handgun and small bag of suspected marijuana.
Santos, Townsend and Cruz were taken into custody that night.
The gun used in the robbery later was determined to be a pellet gun.