Man pleads guilty in campus robbery

COLUMBIA — One of the two suspects charged in connection with a September 2008 robbery at MU pleaded guilty in Boone County Circuit Court on Monday.

Demetrius O. Edwards, 19, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of stealing. Edwards was initially charged with second-degree robbery. The class C stealing felony carries a possible sentence of one day to seven years in prison. Boone County Circuit Court Judge Kevin Crane sentenced Edwards to five years in prison. He will receive credit for time served since his arrest three days after the incident.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Sept. 17, 2008. A 21-year-old male MU student was robbed by three men between Engineering Building East and Switzler Hall near MU's Francis Quadrangle, according to previous Missourian reports. One man allegedly attacked the victim from behind and dragged him to the ground while the other two men kicked him and stole a wallet, cell phone and iPod from the victim's backpack, the reports said.

The victim was not injured and refused medical treatment.

Michael Zellman, 21, was also charged in connection with the robbery. On April 13, Zellman pleaded guilty to stealing, according to Missouri Case.net. He was released on home detention on a $10,000 bond. Zellman's final sentencing is scheduled for May 26.

A third suspect, Stafford D. Lambert, 20, was arrested in connection with the robbery, according to previous Missourian reports. A search of Missouri Case.net found no charges for Lambert in the case.