KELLER
––––
A local man will spend half a decade behind bars for robbing a local pharmacy.
Ian John Keller, 24, 115 Burnwell St., Woodstock, has been sentenced to five years in prison. Earlier this year, Keller pleaded guilty to one count each of robbery and having a weapon under disability. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss one count each of attempted theft of drugs, possession of criminal tools and carrying a concealed weapon.
Visiting Judge Mark O’Connor sentenced Keller to five years in prison. Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said the sentence was “on the low end.” He said because Keller had a gun on him at the time of the crime, the sentence included a mandatory 12-month sentence.
Assistant Union County Prosecutor Kelly Hamilton argued for consecutive sentences that would have put Keller in prison for six and a half years. Defense attorney Cliff Valentine said Keller has a drug problem and relatively little criminal background.
During the hearing, Keller made a series of apologies, including one to his family.
O’Conner said he felt Keller showed “genuine remorse.”
The judge called Keller “a moderate risk to reoffend.”
Prosecutors said Keller was convicted of a theft offense in Logan County and was ordered to serve community control. They argued Keller got his “second chance” in that case.
Even so, Phillips said he felt the sentence was enough to punish the crime.
“His criminal history is not long,” said Phillips. “He is not a long-term violator and I think the judge realized that.”
He called Keller “a young man.”
“For a man his age, five years is a long time,” Phillips said.
About 9:59 a.m., on Oct. 3, Keller went into the CVS Pharmacy on West Fifth Street in Marysville wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a purple bandana covering his face. He went to the pharmacy area and demanded “all of the Percocet you have,” according to court documents. The man implied he had a weapon.
Store employees and customers quickly began calling 911 to report the robbery in progress.
Officers arrived within a minute of the call and found Keller near the back of the store. Authorities ordered him to the ground and took him without incident.
Keller had a .380 semi-automatic handgun in his front waistband, and a .22 revolver in his rear waistband.
Deputy Chief Tony Brooks said investigators interviewed Keller after the incident.
“He basically related it to just a very poor decision,” Brooks said.
The suspect’s vehicle, a purple Honda hatchback, was located a short distance down the street and was seized. Brooks said authorities determined Keller was acting alone.
If convicted on all charges, Keller could have faced as many as 18 years in prison.