Purse-snatcher gets 10 years in prison
Published 10:11 am Thursday, February 23, 2012
The fate of an Ironton man charged with trying to steal a woman’s purse at knifepoint was decided Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.
Gregory S. Gannon, 28, was sentenced for first-degree aggravated robbery and second-degree kidnapping. The charges against Gannon stem from an incident at Bartram and Sons grocery store in November.
While brandishing a knife, Gannon tried to snatch a woman’s purse in the parking lot of the store. Also during the incident, Gannon tried to get in the victim’s car with her, which added a second-degree kidnapping charge to the indictment.
The victim fought back and Gannon grabbed her purse and fled but was chased by four witnesses who cornered him until police arrived.
Before sentencing, Gannon’s attorney Warren Morford, said Gannon still denied a knife was involved during the incident and that he threatened the victim with a knife.
“I would like to apologize to the victim and to my family for what I’ve done,” Gannon said before sentencing.
Judge Charles Cooper sentenced Gannon to 10 years in prison for the aggravated robbery charge and eight years for the kidnapping charge, to be run concurrently.
In other cases:
• Robert Early, 55, of 412 Township Road 203W, Ironton, changed his plea on one count of second-degree felonious assault.
Early had previously pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Morford, and changed his plea Wednesday to not guilty by reason of insanity.
Morford said he did not feel comfortable proceeding until his client was evaluated.
Cooper placed Early under house arrest until results of an evaluation were returned.
• Shawn Harris, 32, of 2868 1/2 Forest Ave., Ashland, Ky., pleaded guilty to one count of fourth degree driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Cooper sentenced Harris to four years community-controlled sanctions with intensive supervised probation, six months in the county jail, a five-year driver’s license suspension and fined him $1,500.
Harris was represented by attorney Mike Gleichauf.
• Delmar Jenkins, 23, of 422 N. Second St., Ironton, admitted to a CCS violation.
Cooper sentenced Jenkins to four months in prison, after which his CCS would be terminated.
Jenkins was represented by attorney Scott Evans.
• David Craft, 38, of 8130 County Road 1, Lot 11, South Point, pleaded guilty to one count of fifth-degree abduction.
Craft’s attorney, Mike Gleichauf, said the incident was not a “typical abduction.”
“They knew each other, they were in a relationship,” Gleichauf said of his client and the victim. “But (Craft) does admit his wrong-doing.”
Cooper sentenced Craft to one year in prison, giving him credit for time served.
• Stephen Littlejohn, 31, of 17 Private Road 268, South Point, denied a CCS violation.
Cooper scheduled a trial for Feb. 29.
Littlejohn was represented by attorney Warren Morford.