Lima man already doing time for burglary pleads to new charge
Feb. 24—LIMA — A Lima man already serving a prison sentence for burglary and related charges entered a plea of guilty on Wednesday to a new charge of robbery that includes a one-year firearm specification.
Paul Miner Jr., 26, will be sentenced March 31 after accepting a deal from prosecutors that called for him to plead to an amended count of robbery and a reduced firearm spec.
Miner was indicted by a grand jury in December on charges of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony that included a three-year firearm specification. He was also charged with having a weapon under disability and carrying a concealed weapon, felonies of the third- and fourth-degree, respectively. The state dismissed the remaining two counts against him.
Miner faces up to a maximum of eight years in prison on the new charge.
According to court documents Lima police were called on Oct. 21 of last year to 642 Franklin St. in reference to an armed robbery. The victim, Cheryl Gay, said she was allowing a friend to stay at her residence. While Gay was sleeping on the couch, the boyfriend of her friend — known as P.J. — woke her up and pointed a gun at her, demanding money, a phone and car keys. Gay said she gave the man $140 and her cell phone.
The victim described P.J. as a while male about 160 pounds and 5-foot-10 with red hair. Deputies quickly identified the suspect at Miner. Gay later picked him out of a police photo lineup "with 100% certainty," according to court records.
Miner is currently serving a three-year prison term as an inmate at the Ohio Department of Correction and Rehabilitation following his conviction in an Allen County courtroom late last year on charges of burglary, grand theft of a firearm and possession of drugs.
