ANDERSON — An Anderson man faces six to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he injured a store clerk while robbing a tobacco shop.
Harold O. Afzal Jr., 43, pleaded guilty to a Class C felony charge of robbery resulting in bodily injury. Afzal admitted in court that he robbed Discount Tobacco, 2625 Columbus Ave., on July 21, 2008.
Deputy Prosecutor Rudolph Pyle III said that Afzal went to the store at about 9 p.m. that night, bought a piece of candy, dropped a wrapper on the floor and then attempted to grab money out of the open cash register, Pyle said.
The cashier tried to close the register, and a struggle resulted. The cashier suffered a shoulder injury, and Afzal fled with a fistful of $5 bills, but dropped money while running away.
The cashier later picked Afzal out of a photo lineup. Afzal said he turned himself in on the store-robbery charges last August.
Because of past convictions for robbery, battery and other crimes, prosecutors had sought to have Afzal deemed a habitual offender, which would have meant an enhanced sentence.
But the plea entered on Monday leaves sentencing at the discretion of Madison Superior Court 1 Judge Dennis Carroll, Pyle said. The plea agreement does not specify a recommended sentence.
In exchange for Afzal’s guilty plea on the principal charge against him related to the robbery, prosecutors dropped a single felony charge of theft.
What’s next
Harold O. Afzal Jr. will be sentenced on Aug. 3 in Madison Superior Court 1. He faces six to 20 years in prison on a felony charge of robbery resulting in bodily injury. Man pleads guilty of injuring store clerk in robbery
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford @heraldbulletin.com
Cops, courts and fires
Related Photos
Related Links
Discussion
Afzal pleads guilty of injuring store clerk in robbery
- Cops, courts and fires
-
-
Arrest Log: May 28
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Saturday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
- Conservation officers arrest Anderson boater on alcohol charge
-
Anderson man dies at Monroe Reservoir; 3 others arrested
Memorial Day weekend took a tragic turn Saturday evening as an Anderson man visiting Monroe Reservoir died. Three other Anderson men were arrested later that day following the death of Matthew Hosier, 29.
-
Handicapped murder convict alleges prison discrimination
Since October 2006, Donald Lock has been confined to a wheel chair because of a degenerative bone disease. He has spent time at correctional facilities throughout the state, but it wasn’t until he was transferred to Pendleton earlier this year that he said he felt his disability was ignored.
-
Woman considering lawsuit over police actions during arrest
An Anderson woman said police crossed the line when they shot her with a stun gun, and then pepper sprayed her during an arrest in February.
-
Arrest log: May 26
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Thursday and Friday, based on Madison County Jail records.
-
Arrest log: May 25
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Wednesday and Thursday, based on Madison County Jail records.
-
Boxes outside Aldi catch fire
A small fire outside the Aldi grocery store in Anderson caused an evacuation of shoppers and employees.
-
Arrest Log: May 24
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
Indianapolis woman whose fetus died in suicide try freed
A Chinese immigrant who tried to kill herself by eating rat poison was free on bond Tuesday after more than a year in an Indianapolis jail on charges that she killed her 33-week-old fetus.
- More Cops, courts and fires Headlines
-
Arrest Log: May 28
