Robbery suspect cops plea

MUNISING - An Ohio woman is expected to spend time in state prison after pleading guilty under a plea arrangement Friday to aiding and abetting an armed robbery in Munising last year.

Antoinette Elyse Heiser, 20, of Fostoria, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the felony offense before 93rd District Court Judge Mark Luoma Friday, who was taking Heiser's plea by assignment.

Sentencing has tentatively been set for 10 a.m. Oct. 6, but the hearing could be held earlier if court scheduling allows.

By Heiser pleading guilty to the aiding and abetting charge related to the Nov. 25, 2007, robbery of the Superior Shell Service Station in Munising, a four-year felony charge of absconding was dismissed under the plea arrangement.

A sentence of three to 15 years is being recommended under the terms of the deal. Although defense attorney Charles Nebel pointed out that at sentencing the judge could sentence Heiser within prescribed guidelines to as low as 27 months for the minimum, with the maximum capped at 15 years.

Luoma told Heiser the circuit court sentencing judge was not bound by recommendations and could choose to set a tougher sentence. Heiser would then have the option of withdrawing her guilty plea.

"We talked about doing a robbery," Heiser told Luoma, referring to she and Marcus Keyshawn Means, 16, of Detroit who pleaded guilty to armed robbery under a plea agreement earlier this year. Means was sentenced to serve 42 months to 15 years in state prison.

"He said he was going to rob a gas station," Heiser said.

Though Heiser said she wasn't sure Means would actually go through with the crime. The pair stopped at the BP Munising Travel Center in Wetmore and Means did not rob the business.

"I thought he was bull-crapping me," Heiser said.

But then they went to the Shell station and Heiser said she went in alone to buy some gum and see how many employees were working. She and Means then drove to nearby Onota Street and she parked the vehicle.

"I waited in the car for him to come back," Heiser said. "I didn't know what he was going to do. I didn't know he had a gun on him."

But Heiser later testified she knew Means had a gun or a knife or some weapon to be used in the crime.

The robbery was reported to police at about 10:45 p.m. by clerk Troy Riley, 19, who said a young, black male approached him wearing a white mask over his face and a hooded jacket.

According to police reports discussing a surveillance videotape, the robber pointed the gun at Riley, cocked the gun, told the clerk he wasn't playing with him and demanded all of the money out of the till.

"Take it all," Riley replied.

The robber then left the gas station on foot.

Means and Heiser were located at a local motel by police, just over an hour after the robbery. Witness reports led police to the motel, which was located near the gas station.

Heiser said that about two hours after Means was arrested, Means' father found the gun in the back seat of the vehicle. The gun was taken to a local residence and recovered later by police. The weapon had been concealed in the tank of a toilet inside the home.

Means' father found money from the robbery in his son's laundry, Heiser testified Friday.

Luoma accepted Heiser's guilty plea, saying she aided and abetted Means in the crime by "casing the joint" and transporting him from the scene.

Heiser had been free on bond awaiting a jury trial on the robbery charge. But on June 23, she failed to appear for trial. A warrant was issued for her arrest for absconding.

Police in Ohio arrested Heiser July 8 and she was returned to Alger County. The bond was forfeited.

Appearing in court in an orange jump suit and shackles and a belt restraint, Heiser was returned to the Alger County Jail to await sentencing.