Dunkin Donuts robber gets 6 extra years in prison

July 13, 2017 at 12:06a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Turner held for Contempt of Court

Jamal Turner, 25, was sentenced on charges of aggravated robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. During sentencing Turner's brother, Jamel, stormed out of the court. He was chased down by a bailiff and a deputy and taken into custody.

A man who skipped an April 20 sentencing date in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for his son’s first birthday received an extra six years in prison Wednesday.

An earlier plea agreement had called for Jamal Turner, 25, to be sentenced to six years in prison on charges of aggravated robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm and a firearm specification. But because he missed his sentencing date and did not turn himself in until June, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison by Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.

Before the sentence was handed down, Turner’s twin brother, Jamel Turner, stormed out of court as Judge Krichbaum was talking, hitching up his pants on the way out and loudly opening a door.

He was tracked down by a bailiff and deputies and arrested on a contempt-of-court charge.

A woman who was with Turner’s supporters hyperventilated, and a female deputy had to calm her down so she could get her breath back. She was taken out of the courtroom when Judge Krichbaum had a contempt hearing for Jamel Turner.

Jamal Turner is accused of robbing the Youngstown-Poland Road Dunkin Donuts about 2:35 a.m. July 28, 2016, and stealing $200 cash.

He confessed several days later to Struthers police. He was free on $25,000 bond from Struthers Municipal Court before he entered his plea and was sentenced.

Michael Kivlighan, Jamal Turner’s attorney, told the judge his client was in desperate financial straits, which is why he committed the robbery.

Kivlighan said his client had a weapon but never pointed it at the employees or customers during the robbery and that he skipped his sentencing so he could celebrate his son’s birthday.

Kivlighan said he wished his client had asked him to file a motion to extend the sentencing so he could be there.

He asked the judge to live up to the plea agreement because Jamal Turner confessed, is remorseful and he turned himself in after the warrant was issued for his arrest.

Turner also apologized for his actions and the shame he bought on his family and the fear any of the victims of the robbery experienced. There were no victims present in court.

Judge Krichbaum said Turner’s apologies “might have meant something to the court if you showed up when you were supposed to.”

“I can’t imagine something more serious than going into someone’s business with a gun and robbing them,” Judge Krichbaum said.

When Judge Krichbaum said such behavior cannot be tolerated, that is when Jamel Turner got up and walked out. Jamal Turner pleaded with the judge to be easy on his twin brother, saying that another brother was just sentenced to prison last month and that he was “frustrated.”

After he was brought back, the hearing continued briefly until the sentence was handed down and court recessed.

The woman who was distraught was calmed down by the deputy before she was taken out of court, then the judge came back on the bench to have a hearing for Jamel Turner.

Jamel Turner apologized and said he did not mean to be disrespectful. “Is this necessary?” he asked.

Another hearing will take place at 8:30 a.m. today for Jamel Turner. He was booked into the Mahoning County jail.