Law and Order Lake County
June 19, 2012 4:12PM
Updated: June 19, 2012 4:53PM
Merrillville
Gary man gets 8 years for robberies
Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell sentenced a Gary man to eight years for robbery and attempted robbery.
Stephen M. Randolph, 26, will serve four years in prison, followed by four years on probation under terms of his plea agreement.
Randolph admitted he pointed a handgun on Oct. 20 at an employee of Family Dollar, 5400 Broadway, Merrillville and demanded cash. The clerk handed over about $300 in a plastic bag. Merrillville police arrived at that moment. Randolph then removed the mask he was wearing, left the bag with the money on the floor and ran.
On Oct. 9, Randolph robbed the Dollar General at 2828 Central Ave., Lake Station, while claiming to be armed with a handgun. The clerk gave him about $150.
Randolph’s plea agreement requires him to pay $300 to Family Dollar and $150 to Dollar General during his probation.
A separate robbery case from December was dismissed.
HAMMOND
Habitual offender robbed two shops
A Hammond man was sentenced in Lake Superior Court to 24 years in prison for two robberies and being an habitual offender.
John William Montgomery, 48, was sentenced for a Dec. 27 robbery at Subway, 4538 Calumet Ave., Hammond, in which he wore a mask, yelled at employees to get on the floor and demanded cash. Montgomery held his hand under his sweater as if he had a gun and took all the money from the register before fleeing.
Montgomery also admitted to a Nov. 7 robbery of the Smoke Shop, 2120 U.S. 41, Schererville. In that case, he also wore a mask and had his jacket hood pulled up before he demanded money from an employee while holding his right hand under his jacket. He took a $20 from the register while the victim pushed the panic button, then punched the woman in the face during a struggle.
Two other robbery cases were dismissed.
