A Hilliard man was given three years of community control for his role in an August 2016 burglary in Delaware.
Cedrik Deshon Donnally, 20, appeared in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Friday afternoon to be sentenced for one count of burglary, a second-degree felony.
Prosecutors report the charges stem from an Aug. 13 incident where Donnally accompanied Columbus residents Taj Marcus Easley, 21, and Cody Alexander Gregory, 23, to a home on Forest Brooke Way in Delaware.
Delaware Police report that the trio forced their way in and held the residents at gunpoint. Police report the men stole $5,000 cash, a safe, jewelry and several cell phones before leaving.
Additionally, police report that Easley and Gregory returned to the residence again on Sept. 16, held the residents against their will and stole $200 cash, a television, a car part and an Xbox 360 before leaving again.
Donnally told Delaware County Common Pleas Judge David Gormley that met up with Easley to buy a motorcycle, but Easley said he didn’t have enough money. Donnally said that Easley and Gregory forced him to go with them to the Delaware home and said Easley pulled out a gun and threatened the residences.
Donnally’s attorney, Karen Phipps, told Gormley that Donnally didn’t know Easley had a gun and stood and watched the door during the burglary. Phipps said Donnally has never committed a crime before and didn’t even have a speeding ticket before this event.
Phipps said Donnally did not go to the second burglary and didn’t threaten anyone.
“I’m really sorry,” Donnally said Friday. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about my actions and I’m sorry. I’m ready to change.”
Gormley said the burglary charge carries a presumption of prison but said he didn’t feel it would be appropriate to sentence Donnally to a years-long prison sentence for this crime and instead placed him on three years of community control.
Gormley said during the term Donnally must find full time employment and regularly check in with the court. Donnally is also prohibited from using drugs or consuming alcohol and faces a three-year prison term if he violates the community control sentence.
“Please don’t make me look like a fool,” Gormley said. “Make better choices.”
Gormley also ordered that Donnally complete 60 hours of community service and ordered him to pay $750 in restitution.
Donnally has also spent 108 days in the Delaware County Jail since he was indicted on Feb. 17.
Easley appeared in court on May 22 and was sentenced to three years in prison for his part in both burglaries. He was serving his sentence on Friday.
Gregory also entered a guilty plea to two counts of burglary, second-degree felonies, at a hearing on April 24 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 3. He was out on bond Friday.
