Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man decided to plead guilty today instead of standing trial in an attack on a woman pumping gas at a DeWitt service station in March. Levon Cooper, 43, of 420 Gifford St., pleaded guilty before Onondaga County Judge William Walsh to a lesser charge of third-degree robbery in the March 11 incident at the Mobil...
Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man decided to plead guilty today instead of standing trial in an attack on a woman pumping gas at a DeWitt service station in March.
Levon Cooper, 43, of 420 Gifford St., pleaded guilty before Onondaga County Judge William Walsh to a lesser charge of third-degree robbery in the March 11 incident at the Mobil station on Carrier Circle.
Walsh promised Cooper the maximum penalty of 3 1/2 to seven years in state prison. Assistant District Attorney Kari Armstrong said that sentence will be served consecutively to about six years Cooper already owes on parole for an earlier robbery conviction.
According to authorities, the victim was pumping gas when Cooper approached her and told her he was a station employee. The victim became suspicious and tried to get back into her car only to have Cooper pull open the driver's door before she could shut and lock it.
Officials said Cooper then choked the woman and hit her in the chest as he tried to steal her wallet. Police said the victim convinced Cooper to take only the money and leave the wallet behind.
Cooper was located a short time later at the nearby Red Roof Inn.
Armstrong said the victim, a resident of California who often works in the Syracuse, was en route back to Syracuse for the trial this morning when Cooper opted to plead guilty instead.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 20.