LIMA — One of three people charged with severely beating a Lima man at an Albert Street residence in January of this year was sentenced Tuesday in Allen County Common Pleas Court.
Alexander Armstead, 31, of Lima, was sent to prison for nine years on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated robbery for a Jan. 26 incident that left Lima resident Stephen Parks with injuries serious enough to require hospitalization.
Prosecutors said Armstead, along with Terry Volbert, and Melissa Ream, both of Lima, conspired to rob Parks on the night in question. According to court documents, Parks was visiting Ream, whom he had met online, at 705 Albert St. in Lima. A man, later identified as Armstead, entered the home wearing a mask and carrying a club and began to beat Parks, stealing his wallet and cellphone before leaving.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they located a bloody guitar in the front yard that they determined Parks had used to defend himself during the attack. Inside the home officers found Ream and Volbert and took both into custody.
Volbert, 29, was sentenced last month to six years in prison for his role in the incident.
During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Judge Jeffrey Reed said the lengthy sentence for Armstead was based on conclusions from investigators that Armstead delivered the blow that injured Parks.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Terri Kohlreiser said Parks was “severely beaten … and suffered serious psychological harm as well.” Marla Parks told the court that her brother is “a very gentle and kind-hearted person who was beaten and left for dead” and continues to “relive the nightmare.”
Reed said Armstead will be eligible for judicial release after serving five years in prison.
Ream, 28, will appear in court for a change of plea hearing on Tuesday.
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