PRINCETON —
A Mercer County man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Mercer County Circuit Court to two counts of second degree robbery involving the March 20, and 23, robberies of the Cargo Gas Station and the New People’s Bank respectively, both of Bluewell, a Mercer County assistant prosecutor said.
Michael W. Pennington, 35, of Brushfork, entered an 11 (e)(C) plea to both counts of second degree robbery, according to Janet Williamson, assistant Mercer County prosecuting attorney.
Williamson explained that when a defendant enteras an 11 (e)(C) plea, the court has to accept the plea and the court also acknowledges that if it does not accept the plea, the defendant can withdraw it.
In Pennington’s case, the defendant entered a plea to the two charges that will expose him to a 5-18 year sentence on the robbery of the Cargo Gas station charge, with the court’s agreement to suspend the 10 to 20 year sentence on the robbery charge at the New People’s Bank.
Williamson said that an 11 (e)(C) plea is unusual. She said that the court can either accept or reject the plea.
Mercer County Circuit Court Judge William Sadler denied a bond modification motion from the defendant, according to Williamson. The court scheduled Pennington’s sentencing for 11 a.m., on Nov. 16, in Circuit Court Judge Derek Swope’s court.
Pennington was arrested on March 23, after the armed robbery of New People’s Bank of Bluewell and was later charged with the March 20, armed robbery of the Cargo Station also on U.S. Route 52 in Bluewell.
— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com
Local News
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Michael W. Pennington, 35 Staff photo by Jon Bolt
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