Teenager pleads guilty to armed robbery charges in incidents involving delivery drivers
Jeffrey Davon Howell
Courtesy of Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Jeffrey Davon Howell, 18, of Ann Arbor, appeared in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Thursday where he pleaded guilty to a charge of armed robbery and a charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
In the plea deal, two other felony charges - conspiracy to commit armed robbery and attempted armed robbery - will be dismissed and the maximum sentence Judge David Swartz can impose on Howell will not exceed four years and three months in prison.
Howell appeared in court in street clothes, indicating that he is currently free on bond, which had been set at 10 percent of $15,000 at the time of his arrest.
He was soft-spoken and repeatedly said, “Yes, sir,” as Swartz asked Howell if he played a part in one armed robbery and one attempted armed robbery involving delivery drivers for a pizzeria and a Chinese restaurant.
Howell and Anthony Demario Hugan are accused of robbing a 38-year-old Ypsilanti man at gunpoint at a residence in the 1000 block of Bluestem Lane in Ann Arbor after placing an order with Bell’s Pizza on April 12. Five days later, in the 2000 block of Liberty Heights, the two teens allegedly called in an order to Happy Wok and attempted to rob Soon Gin, a delivery driver.
Gin testified in court during Hugan’s preliminary exam that he drove away from the area before the robbery could happen because he felt something was wrong when he got to the home.
“The Chinese delivery (driver) left before (Howell) could go through with it,” Washtenaw assistant prosecuting attorney Brenda Taylor told the judge Thursday.
Many details came out during Hugan's preliminary examination in May.
Howell’s sentencing has been set for Aug. 9 at 1:30 p.m., the same date and time scheduled for Hugan to appear before Swartz for a pretrial hearing.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
braves03
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
I'm sorry to hear this because Jeffery was a good kid that just got caught up with the wrong crowd and couldn't decide to walk away when trouble came his way. It's a hard lesson to learn youngman and I pray you make better decisions and turn your life around once you are given a second chance!
badboybobbybrown
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.
The crimes this kid committed are senseless and totally avoidable. Even if he does decide to change his ways and try to stay out of trouble the odds are stacked against him. Going to prison at such a young age and then trying to be a productive member of society will be very difficult. He'll most likely come out of prison, have nowhere to turn but crime, and end up back in the system. Truth is, this kid just ruined the rest of his life.
Sue
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:04 a.m.
at 18, he's an adult, not a kid, and it's his own choices that have and will continue to decide his future. It's not up to society to make it easy for him, if he wants to live right, he'll have to work extra hard now that he's screwed up.
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.
I thought there was a minimum sentence for using a handgun in the commission of a felony?
Ricebrnr
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 1 p.m.
Per usual bargained away...
Sue
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:58 a.m.
There is, I heard it was just 2 years. :( Should be 10 if you ask me.
nickcarraweigh
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 3:29 a.m.
The unspoken tragedy in all this is the vastly reduced likelihood of hearing his views on reforming the Euro zone before the August primary elections.
ADH
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 2:56 a.m.
Pickforddick i hope you remember your comments the next time you need some forgiveness and kindness towards your way. You reap what you sow
Angry Moderate
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Why don't you let the fine young gentleman live with you when he gets out of jail? (Most likely in a few months).
cinnabar7071
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
ADH the better approach would be not to do things you needs forgiveness for. It's been doing wonders for my life.
Harry Sammy
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:32 a.m.
habituatual offender he is!
Ricebrnr
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
With Yoda, I agree
Pickforddick
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:27 a.m.
Good for him......all criminals should be locked up.....I do not feel any sorrow for them at all.....my concerns are with the victims and their family's.
Superior Twp voter
Thu, Jul 5, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.
He has earned himself a vacation, right here in Michigan!
RJA
Thu, Jul 5, 2012 : 10:56 p.m.
He may very well have learned something by saying ( Yes Sir ) @ Darryl, some people can and will change. I hope so.
Angry Moderate
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
LOL. Multiple armed robberies at 18 years old, and saying "Yes Sir" to a judge while getting a generous plea deal shows a change of heart? What low standards.
Darryl Gritman
Thu, Jul 5, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.
I'm guessing we can expect more of the same from this young man in a couple years (or months) when he's released.
Ricebrnr
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
The cognitive dissonance over incarcerating criminals is easily rectified. Imprisoning dangerous criminals IS NOT about helping or rehabilitating them. Imprisoning criminals is about punishing them and keeping them away from us. Also I think it's disingenuous to say we have the highest incarceration rates due to not helping criminals. I find it more likely our incarceration rates are so high because unlike many other countries we don't execute them at will. In that light is not "warehousing" them actually a better thing from your perspective?
cinnabar7071
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
ordmad he could be FUBAR, and all the hugging, praising, and meds might not do a thing for him. Thats a fact we have to except. And what are other Countrys doing for the criminals that keep their prison populations low? Are they putting them to death? Cutting off hands? Is that what you're suggesting?
Pickforddick
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:38 a.m.
Maybe if we gave him a Gov't check every week he would stop being a criminal.....let's all pitch in and help.
ordmad
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.
That's right because all we will do is warehouse this young man where the only thing offered to him are the lessons from career criminals. One of the many reasons we lead the WORLD in incarceration rates per capita. And, no, it's not because we have more "bad" people, we just do a whole lot less to help those at risk.