Man gets four years in robbery case

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A co-defendant of a man who was sentenced last week for his role in a string of robberies got a four-year prison sentence Tuesday.

DeAndre Smith, 23, of Chatham Lane, was sentenced in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court by Judge John Durkin for a single count of aggravated robbery with a firearm specification. He will get credit for 319 days served in the county jail awaiting the outcome of his case.

Prosecutors said Smith took part in a string of robberies in August 2015 near the Youngstown State University campus as well as a robbery of a man in a Tyrell Avenue apartment building for the man’s shoes.

Another defendant, Jarel Gadson, spearheaded the robberies, and Judge Durkin sentenced him to six years in prison last week.

Smith’s sentence was agreed upon by prosecutors and defense attorney Michael Gollings.

Judge Durkin said in looking at a pre-sentence investigation he was surprised Smith not only did not have a major criminal record, but also got good grades in school.

Smith apologized.

Judge Durkin said he hopes when Smith is released from prison he speaks to students and other young people about the importance of making good decisions and staying out of trouble.