Serial store robber pleads guilty

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

An assistant Mahoning County prosecutor is seeking an 11-year prison term for a man who pleaded guilty to a series of Family Dollar discount store robberies and a Subway sandwich shop robbery late in 2012.

Tyrone Freeman pleaded guilty Friday to four counts of aggravated robbery, two firearm specifications and a single count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Freeman, 20, of Roxbury Avenue, entered his plea before Judge James C. Evans of common pleas court, who will sentence him at 11 a.m. Feb. 5 after a pre-sentence investigation by the Community Corrections Association.

Although Jennifer McLaughlin, who is prosecuting the case, recommends 11 years in prison, Freeman could get up to 61 years in prison if Judge Evans imposes maximum, consecutive sentences on all charges and firearm specifications.

Freeman pleaded guilty to robbing a Boardman Family Dollar on Sept. 22 and a Youngstown Family Dollar on Oct. 2, both with firearms, and a Subway in Youngstown on Oct. 19 with a machete.

He also pleaded guilty to a Nov. 10 robbery of a Family Dollar in Boardman, but McLaughlin dropped the firearm specification concerning that incident in the plea agreement.

Freeman was represented by Atty. J. Michael Thompson.

Charges still are pending against Freeman’s adult co-defendants in this case — James Woods of Palmer Avenue and Charles Walker of Warwick Drive, both 19, and Shaquil Brown, 20, of Akron.

Four juveniles also were charged in the purported robbery ring.