Teen sentenced to 4 years in prison for armed robbery of pizza delivery driver
Jeffery Howell
Courtesy of Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
One teen got prison time and a second pleaded no contest last week in the armed robbery of a pizza delivery driver in Ann Arbor in April.
In addition to receiving a sentence of between four and 20 years in prison, Jeffrey Howell, 18, of Ann Arbor, pleaded guilty to a second-degree home invasion charge for stealing a Sony PlayStation video game system in a separate incident that took place a few weeks before the two teens robbed a Bell’s Pizza delivery driver.
Howell pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery on July 5.
His co-defendant, 19-year-old Anthony Hugan, also appeared before Judge David Swartz in the Washtenew County Trial Court where he took a plea deal that likely will land him in prison for at least three years.
The two teens were involved in the robbery of a 38-year-old male Bell’s delivery driver at 1 a.m., April 12 in the 1000 block of Bluestem Lane in Ann Arbor. Police said they took cash and the pizza. They tried a similar robbery a week later with a Chinese food delivery driver, but were unsuccessful, police said.
Howell received prison time despite Christopher Renna, assistant Washtenaw County public defender, asking Swartz to consider departing from the sentencing guidelines because of Howell’s youth and because he showed remorse for what he did.
“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Howell said. “I feel bad now. It’s hurt (my family) just as much me.”
Anthony Hugan
Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
“The defendant’s history speaks for itself. He’s … on a criminal spree,” she said, citing the home invasion charge.
Howell pleaded guilty to that charge Aug. 9 and will be sentenced to additional jail or prison time on Aug. 30.
Earlier in the day, Hugan appeared before Swartz where he pleaded no contest to a count of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The no contest plea was entered so Hugan could avoid civil liability. It is treated much the same way as a guilty plea by the court.
As part of the plea agreement, Hugan will be sentenced a minimum of three and a half years in prison. Hugan had been free on bond, but the judge denied a 30-day continuation. Hugan was remanded into police custody after his 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
ADH
Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
Sue i really believe that sounds 100% fair
Sue
Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 8:06 a.m.
I personally know two other pizza drivers who were not only robbed but assaulted within the past year by teenagers. And according to similar reports I keep hearing about, it appears this is becoming an epidemic. Unfortunately the only way to get the message across loud and clear to other "kids" that this will not be tolerated, is to give those that commit these crimes some time behind bars. Slaps on the wrist, community service and probation just aren't enough of a deterrent. I would be in favor of a boot camp program for these young criminals as long as it was tough enough and they had to serve the same length of time as their prisons sentences would have been. But if they cause any problems in boot camp, they should go directly to prison for the duration of their time. And they should all receive counseling in hopes that they will become responsible, law abiding citizens.
Benz2012
Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 3:22 a.m.
Steve trust me I have researched this case and I am telling you it's patchy at best I know that for a Fact
stevek
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
Benz-These are not innocent people. Hugan PLED guilty to have some charges dropped. If Howell was innocent, why didn't he plead innocent? It is also hard to have a previous record when you are 18 and 19 years old. Until you are 18 you have no adult record.
Benz2012
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 : 1:09 a.m.
Most if not all of you are making negative comments and have no idea on the details of the case. Hugan has no priors at All. Neither victim could identify the supposed robbers no prints on the gun no witnesses. Classic case of the Ann Arbor police dept rushing to judgement to save face. And the pizza guy that claims he got robbed is a know exaggerater. I just don't want to see 2 young men put in prison on chumped up charges
Ron Granger
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 12:23 p.m.
I support the harsh sentence - it was ARMED robbery, with a second attempt within a week. This wasn't a couple of hungry "kids" who snatched a pizza out of a car, etc. They held someone up. I wonder if the judge had access to any sealed criminal history from when they were "kids", and whether that could have influenced the sentence? Not sure how that works, but I think the sealed stuff becomes a factor if there is future crime. And the question always is, how much time will they actually do?
ChelseaBob
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.
Wouldn't these young men be good candidates for the boot camp system? I have no quarrel with the sentence, as they are obviously a problem for society. It also seems a waste to give up on them at 18 and 19. If they can be placed somehwere other than a facility with hardened criminals they might still have a chance. We need more alternate facilities like the boot camps.
jim s
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 10:56 a.m.
Im sure the one with the ears will be real popular!
Patty
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 3:19 a.m.
Of all things to go to PRISON for...Bells Pizza that's not even good Pizza unless your drunk and got the munchies. Regardless maybe some time at the Hogback Hilton but PRISON !! they did not kill anyone, but then again maybe that is their next step if they don't get a little prison time to see where they don't want to be, or they could become institutionalized and come out in 3-4 years pissed off and ready to do something to go back for longer.
Jimmy McNulty
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
Patty you just don't get it. They robbed and terrorized an innocent driver with a gun. It is immaterial whether the gun was real or not.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 1:08 a.m.
Hmmm..which of those pictures should be captioned "D'oh!!"
Ron Granger
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 12:20 a.m.
Bells Pizza? That is so not worth going to prison. Bells Beer? Possibly. Regardless, it's prison weiners for those convicted.
a2citizen
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 11:45 p.m.
Benz, for the record I was being sarcastic.
Benz2012
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 11:24 p.m.
Stevek my change came because now I have the full story and all the facts I have been following this story very closely.
raberwhitetail
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
I am thrilled to see these criminals going to prison and I believe this should be the norm for all the criminals in this country.
stevek
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 9:57 p.m.
They said they are sorry. The only thing they are sorry about is that they got caught.
Benz2012
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 9:55 p.m.
I totally agree with a2citizen what type of city do we live in when prosecutors have nothing better to do than put young men in prison who have a fake be be gun. It was not even a real gun. I'm not saying what these 2 kids did was right but to send a 18-19 to prison is absolutely heartless. One of my friends is a top sergeant in the NYPD and he said this case has probation written all over it especially for Hugan who has no prior criminal record. I forwarded him this article and this is gutless by the prosecution attorney. Don't throw these young men away. Ann Arbor i really thought you were better than this.
Jimmy McNulty
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
Well Benz, I suppose it's unfortunate that this is not NY. The real heartless act is to terrorize and rob an innocent citizen with a gun. Get a clue.
uaf120
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 3:39 a.m.
More like what type of city do we live in when 18 and 19 year olds think there is nothing better to do than rob/attempt to rob innocent delivery drivers?! The actions of these two people were heartless, so they pay the consequences of their actions.
stevek
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 10:58 p.m.
Benz--From the original story and your own post you state "This young man is an adult who made his own choices and decisions. You make your bed, now you lay in it" Why the change of heart?
stevek
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
FYI-they are not kids or young men. They are adults. They knew what they were doing was wrong, They intended to commit the crimes. Adults who commit crimes go to prison. Hopefully for a long time
squidlover
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
Sorry, Benz. I guess the tremendous amount of remorse that they felt after their first crime (that we know of) wasn't enough to stop them from robbing the pizza deliverer, and then attempt it again with the other food deliverer. Probation would be a great injustice to the victims and signal that these are minor crimes. Also, these cowards commit ARMED robbery and you have the nerve to call the prosecutor gutless?
nvragain
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 10:10 p.m.
You understand that if the man delivering the pizzas had been equipped with a gun these young men may not be facing probabtion or prison, but death. Gutless is robbing a hardworking citizen. Ann Arbor is not at fault here for their actions, nor the judge, prosecutor, or police for doing their jobs. The fault lies firmly on these felons.
motorcycleminer
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 9:51 p.m.
What no slap on the wrist...I'm shocked....do the crime do the time....
Benz2012
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
John you need to watch your words land in prison you sound happy these boys are headed for prison. Every dog has his day
Skyjockey43
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
Benz, I AM happy these ADULTS are going to prison. I just wish it was a lot longer. Not every dog has his day. The dogs that don't rob a man just trying to work a job and EARN a living have no fear of going to prison.
a2citizen
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 8:38 p.m.
But they're just kids.
a2citizen
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 11:44 p.m.
Hey everybody, I was just being sarcastic. Sharia would cure our crime problem (that's not sarcasm).
squidlover
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
Hmmmmm......nope! Neither home invasion nor armed robbery are mistakes. Both crimes are intentional and malicious acts with no concern for the victims. If you're old enough (and stupid enough) to commit these crimes, you need to be put away to serve your time. After release, hopefully they can get their acts together (and I am only giving them that chance because of their youth).