Man pleads to theft, assault
By Alison James
alison.james@fct.wpengine.com
A Russellville man arrested in October 2014 and charged with robbing the local McDonalds at gunpoint pleaded guilty last week, prior to trial.
Mebratu “Mike” Ogbazgi Mehur, 27, formerly of Holiday Plaza Apartments in Russellville, pleaded guilty to theft, second degree, and assault, second degree, prior to jury selection for the trial that was originally set to begin this week.
According to district attorney Joey Rushing, Mehur was sentenced to two 10-year consecutive sentences to be split – Mehur will serve five years in prison, guaranteed, with automatic five years probation. Any criminal activity during the term of tahat probation will require him to serve the remaining 15 years of the original sentence.
“It’s a way to ensure he serves a specific amount of time in prison without getting parole,” Rushing said, adding that five years is the maximum length of prison sentence for the split sentence scenario.
As previously reported, Chief Chris Hargett said the suspect entered the restaurant through a side door around the time the employees were preparing to close the business for the evening.
After entering the business armed with a 12-guage pump shotgun, the suspect forced the employees and one customer to the rear of the store and ordered the manager to open the safe.
According to police investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery, after gaining entry to the safe, the suspect stole over $1,500 in cash and then left the business.
Hargett said investigators were able to retrieve the weapon used during the robbery along with over $1,500 cash and other items.
Rushing said while Mehur had originally claimed the cash in his vehicle was not from the robbery, as part of his guilty plea, he has also relinquished claim to the money.
Mehur is a legal resident alien, Rushing said. It is not clear at this time whether the guilty plea will have any impact on that status.
Rushing gave credit to Russellville Police Department for their part in taking Mehur into custody.
