LIMA — A Lima man who police say intimidated, physically threatened and robbed a man and woman earlier this year pleaded guilty Monday in Allen County Common Pleas Court to a reduced charge of robbery.
Deshawn Porter, 26, accepted a plea deal offered by prosecutors that called for him to plead guilty to the amended second-degree felony count. Porter was initially indicted by a grand jury on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated robbery, which was subsequently dismissed as part of the plea.
Judge Terri Kohlrieser said Porter faces up to a maximum of 12 years in prison and a $15,000 fine when sentenced Feb. 5, following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation.
Earlier this year, Porter’s attorney requested his client undergo a mental evaluation to determine his fitness to stand trial. Doctors at the Forensic Psychiatry Center for Western Ohio in Dayton said Porter “is currently capable of assisting with his defense and is competent to stand trial.”
According to court documents, on July 23 Lima police were dispatched to the 600 block of East Second Street in reference to a robbery. A resident there told officers she and her boyfriend had recently moved into the home and were having trouble with Porter, who also stayed at the residence.
The woman told police Porter had on more than one occasion threatened to rape her and cause her physical harm.
On the day in question, the woman said she was in the shower when Porter burst into the room and tried to take her purse, police say. She and her boyfriend retreated to their room, but Porter forced his way through a closed door and was carrying a large carving fork, the woman told police. She said the Lima man threatened to cause them physical harm.
Several other people at the residence reportedly verified her account.
Porter reportedly admitted to police that he was intoxicated and had not been taking his prescribed medications for a while. He also admitted taking the fork into the couple’s room with the intent of intimidating them, court documents show.
A jury trial for Porter would have started Jan. 27.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
