The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Crime & Courts

December 11, 2012

Gunman pleads guilty in pizza deliveryman robbery

One of three men charged with the robbery of a pizza deliveryman last summer in Joplin was granted a suspended sentence Monday while a co-defendant was pleading guilty in a separate division of Jasper County Circuit Court.

Circuit Judge Gayle Crane assessed Shawn M. Simmons, 29, eight years in prison on a conviction for second-degree robbery, but suspended execution of the sentence and placed him on probation for five years.

Simmons pleaded guilty Oct. 1 in a plea agreement with the Jasper County prosecutor’s office that capped the prison time he might be assessed at eight years. He had been facing the possibility of up to 15 years for the offense.

Simmons is one of three defendants charged with robbing a Domino’s Pizza deliveryman at gunpoint July 29 in the 1800 block of South Pearl Avenue. The men made off with about $30 in cash and six pizzas.

A co-defendant, Caleb S. Baker, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery Monday in Judge David Dally’s courtroom. He changed his plea to guilty as part of a deal with the prosecutor’s office that would dismiss a second count of armed criminal action and limit the prison time he might be assessed to 10 years.

The judge delayed formal action on the plea bargain and ordered the completion of a sentencing-assessment report. Baker’s sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 11.

According to police and court records, Baker wielded a handgun in the robbery. He also has previous felony convictions for property damage and tampering with a motor vehicle.





Third defendant



KEITH D. WALTON, 31, a third defendant charged in the robbery of a pizza deliveryman in Joplin, has a court hearing coming up Dec. 21.

Text Only
Crime & Courts
Local News
Sports
Facebook
Poll

Parents could give up their babies without legal consequences up to 45 days after birth under a bill sent to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. The “safe harbor” extension from five days to 45 days could prevent child abuse, say supporters. Should Nixon sign the bill?

Yes.
No.
     View Results
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
May 2011 Joplin tornado
NDN Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting