The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

March 17, 2013

Robber pleads guilty in store heist

By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

HERMITAGE —



 

One of the two men charged with robbing a Hermitage jewelry store in July pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of robbery and has agreed to testify against his co-defendant, police said.

Anthony D. Jacobs, 23, of Columbus, will undergo a mental health evaluation before sentencing, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison.

Prosecutors withdrew six charges, including theft, receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license and conspiracy.

The case against Terrance K. Jackson, 41, of Columbus, is pending.

Jacobs and Jackson entered King’s Jewelry, 3407, E. State St., together and talked to different employees. Jacobs pulled up his shirt showing a gun and Jackson jumped the counter, employees testified at their preliminary hearing in July.

Jackson pulled a crow bar out of his sleeve, and jimmied open a locked display case, employees said. He filled a bag with $76,000 worth of jewelry, jumped back over the counter and he and Jacobs left the store, employees said.

The men ran across the Shenango Valley Mall parking lot, raising the suspicion of passersby, and threw objects - including a gun - over a brick wall at Sears Auto Center.

They did not stop for traffic on East State Street, and ran across the parking lot of Hermitage Square Plaza. Passersby directed police to where the men ran and Jacobs was arrested in the Dumpster area by Bob Evans Restaurant.

Jackson went into the bathroom of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grille and Bar and was forced out by irritants.

The men stole a station wagon from Gargano Towers in Farrell, parked it by Sears Auto Center and left it running, police said. Although they stashed some of the jewelry in the station wagon, they did not use it to get away, police said.

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