Michael Lee

WARREN, Pa. — A Jamestown man has pleaded guilty to armed robbery from an incident that occurred in downtown Warren earlier this month.

Michael C. Lee, 34, entered the plea Thursday morning before President Judge Maureen Skerda in Warren County, Pa. He pleaded guilty to robbery — a first-degree felony that brings a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison — and possession of a firearm prohibited as well as a count of terroristic threats from a separate incident.

City of Warren police were dispatched at about 2:15 a.m. on Dec. 2 to speak to a victim who subsequently reported that he had been robbed at gunpoint by someone wearing dark clothes and a ski mask. The individual took a cellphone, cigarettes and a lighter.

Within four minutes of receiving that information, police located a man, Lee, matching the description who was in possession of the items.

Lee is also accused of using a gun to threaten a man in Conewango Township on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, a man drove his car close to Lee, then came back to apologize, at which point Lee allegedly pointed a gun at him. Police conducted a search, but did not find any suspects at that time.

According to Warren County District Attorney Rob Greene, the firearms charge stems from a protective order against Lee in New York state. He added that the victims involved in the incidents were consulted and agreed with the plea offer.

In exchange for the pleas in Warren County, charges of defiant trespass, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, theft and simple assault were not prosecuted.

Lee also faces a litany of charges in New York.

He was charged in connection with a burglary in November at a North Main Street store in Jamestown where he allegedly cut the wire and damaged an electrical panel at M&M Sports Den. Officers with the Jamestown Police Department had been called to the business. Lee was spotted on the south side of the store but fled when police arrived.

Lee was picked up two weeks later on third-degree robbery and petit larceny charges by the Lakewood-Busti Police Department. Officers had been called Nov. 21 to a kiosk at the Chautauqua Mall for a man who said he had a bomb and to do as he asked.

The suspect, according to Lakewood-Busti police, reportedly tried to disguise himself as a Black man by using dark makeup in an attempt to hide his facial tattoos.

A person fitting Lee’s description was later arrested after officers responded to Walmart for a shoplifting complaint. Lee was issued tickets to appear in Busti Town Court on the two charges.

“This guy should not have been released and should not have had the opportunity to commit the robbery today,” City of Warren police Capt. Jeff Doughtery told the Times Observer when Lee was arrested here. “This robbery was completely preventable.”

Dougherty said Lee was issued an appearance ticket and released after his arrest in New York, rather than being jailed. New York state eliminated cash bail for some charges in 2019 as part of a bail reform act.