A St. Louis man has been ordered to serve a 120-day shock detention sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections in connection with an April 2018 robbery in Jefferson City.
Leland Paris, 19, pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree robbery during a Friday hearing before Cole County Presiding Judge Pat Joyce. Prosecutors dismissed a charge of resisting arrest.
The robbery occurred April 23, 2018, at the Dunklin Stop-N-Shop in the 100 block of West Dunklin Street, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement.
The victim said she had gone to the gas station to purchase items when Paris approached her asking for money. She told Paris “no” and walked inside the business. As she came back out, she was walking toward her vehicle and again was approached by Paris and told him to stop panhandling.
Paris shoved her to the ground and attacked her, taking her cellphone and keys and attempting to leave the parking lot in her vehicle.
A witness said she overheard screams from the victim and went outside to help. She said she saw Paris striking the victim in the face with a closed fist, causing a laceration to the right side of her forehead.
Officers responded to the business and saw Paris walking away, but he began to run from the scene. Eventually, he was taken into custody after a brief foot chase.
When questioned, Paris admitted to hitting the victim with his fist and kicking her while she was on the ground. He also admitted to taking the victim’s phone and attempting to steal her vehicle.
Court records shows Paris has a previous history of stealing-related offenses.