Stamford man rejects state’s plea offer in robbery case

STAMFORD — A city man is likely headed to trial after he rejected a state offer that he serve 10 years in prison if he pleaded guilty to beating and robbing a 70-year-old hospital worker as he walked to work in 2020.

Bobby Brand, 20, of Stamford, rejected the state’s offer during a court hearing Monday, which was dependent on him pleading guilty to first-degree robbery and second-degree assault on an elderly person in return for a 10-year prison sentence, suspended after two to four years, and five years of probation.

Brand was one of four teens who allegedly beat and robbed a 70-year-old hospital worker as he walked to work on Nov. 6, 2020, according to Brand’s arrest affidavit.

The attack left the man with a broken jaw and facial fractures, according to the affidavit.

Brand was arrested in December 2020 on charges of first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, second-degree assault of a victim over 60 and illegal use of a credit card. Two juveniles also arrested in the case face firstdegree robbery, conspiracy to commit firstdegree robbery and second-degree larceny charges.

Before rejecting the offer Monday, Brand hesitated at making the decision, claiming he didn’t have a chance to discuss it with his attorney, public defender Howard Ehring. Ehring disputed Brand’s claim, however. “We’ve discussed it, Your Honor,” Ehring said multiple times.

While Brand balked at the offer as of Monday, Ehring said he believed he and the state could come to terms on a disposition agreement if the court would grant him and his client one more continuance until May.

Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Cummings claimed the time for talks on a potential resolution to the case had passed.

“Your Honor, we’re not negotiating this case anymore. We want it on the trial list,” Cummings said.

The state first extended the offer to Brand in September 2021. The 20-year-old was given until Monday to decide whether to accept or reject that offer.

Earlier this month, one of Brand’s three co-defendants, 20-year-old Arquis Campbell, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery in return for an eight-year suspended sentence, which he will serve between a year or 25 months of, depending on the judge’s discretion.

The two juveniles arrested alongside Campbell and Brand still have their cases pending in the state’s juvenile courts.