WARREN - A North Park Avenue man accused of robbing three businesses in a 16-hour span is being held in jail without bond until his case is resolved.
Derek M. Markley, 29, 4795 N. Park Ave., entered no plea on three third-degree felony charges of robbery Thursday in Warren Municipal Court. Judge Terry Ivanchek ordered Markley be held without bond because Markley failed to appear for past court hearings in Geauga County and might be a flight risk.
Markley is due back in court within the next 10 days for a preliminary hearing.
Court records showed Markley lived in several areas in northern Trumbull County and Geauga County.
Markley had two convictions from Chardon Municipal Court, including a 2008 conviction for assault. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings three times a week and to submit to random drug testing. Records state he still owes more than $800 in court fees and fines. He was convicted of contempt of court following the sentencing and a warrant was issued for his arrest by Middlefield police.
He also was convicted of drug charges in 2003 and fined $150.
Reports state that Markley walked into a CVS on East Market Street on Tuesday, grabbed a water bottle and went up to the counter. He asked for a pack of Marlboro cigarettes and then told the cashier that he had a gun and demanded money.
Markley stole $137 and fled, according to police reports.
Police say that about seven hours later, Markley walked to the back of Sheetz on Elm Road, again grabbed a water bottle, went to the counter and told the cashier he had a gun. He left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash and drove away in a white Dodge minivan, reports state.
Officers were at Sheetz later that day when an employee of the Walgreens across the street reported a man matching the description of the two other robberies had just robbed them.
Officers later apprehended Markley at a 195 Griswold N.E. home.