Man gets four years for robbing elderly

Lorain man wanted freedom to file his taxes

A 54-year-old Lorain man was sentenced to four years in prison June 22 for robbing an elderly couple, but before he received his penalty, he wanted freedom so that he could file his taxes.

Patrick F. Black pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and disrupting public service with repeat violent of- fender specifications for robbing the elderly Lorain couple Jan. 11.

After pleading guilty to the charges, Black claimed he’d raked leaves for the 80-year-old man and 77-year-old woman.

He said when he attempted to collect payment for the work, they would not pay. So, he pushed his way into the home and took the $20 he claimed he was owed.

“It was $20,” Black said. “The guy said I pushed him. But when LifeCare got there, he refused medical treatment.”

Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Donna Freeman said Black pushed his way into the house and took more money than his victims were willing to pay him for the

work.

Black’s victims were very shaken up by the experience and the woman, who is on oxygen, was pushed down “several times” during the altercation, Freeman said.

The sentence was the result of a plea deal between Black’s attorney, J.D. Tomlinson, and prosecutors.

But when Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge James L. Miraldi attempted to sentence Black directly after his plea, he requested a delay in sentencing for a week and immediate release from the Lorain County Jail so he could file his taxes.

Black claims that while he was in custody, someone had attempted to fraudulently file taxes in his name. Taxes were to be filed April 17.

Freeman vehemently argued against this saying Black is a danger to society if released.

She read off a slew of cases of which Black was found guilty in going back to 1996, including charges of weapons under disability, attempted burglary, felonious assault and arson.

“He was given four years on serious charges with this kind of serious violent record,” Freeman said. “So, the state would ask that we proceed to sentencing today.”

Miraldi attempted to strike a compromise by agreeing to wait to sentence Black for 30 days, but leaving him in the County Jail so that someone could bring the tax paperwork to him and it could be filed while he also served time on the sentence.

Black appeared to believe this wasn’t acceptable.

“You know what?” he asked Miraldi. “Let’s just go to sentencing and send me home. We won’t even worry about the taxes. We’ll let the taxes go.”

After Miraldi pronounced the sentence, Black began to talk about his attitude toward his prison term and the terms he has served in the past.

“I’m all right with it, you know what I’m saying?” he told Miraldi. “Let me go up there, do my time and go back.”

Then, turning to Freeman, Black admitted she may be right about the need to keep him in jail.

“She probably is right, but I’ve served my time every time and never complained about it or anything,” he said. “I served my time for it.”

Miraldi said he hopes when Black is released, he will be able to live a lawabiding life.

Black