Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Idris Allen, 38, of Newark pled guilty before the Honorable Verna Leath, Judge of the Superior Court, to first degree armed robbery for a string of robberies that occurred at the same 7-Eleven in the 700 block of Broad Street in Newark.
Assistant Prosecutor Jason Goldberg, who handled the case, said Allen’s trial was scheduled to begin today.
On Friday, Allen entered a guilty plea admitting he robbed the same store three times in four days. Each robbery was captured on surveillance video.
Under the terms of the pled agreement, Allen is expected to be sentenced to seven years in state prison.
He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, Assistant Prosecutor Goldberg said.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 24.
On Dec. 8, 2015, the defendant entered the store and went to the candy isle and stole a bunch of candy; the shift manager ran to the door and locked it demanding Allen turn over the property at which point the defendant took out a knife and demanded the shift manager get out of the way.
On Dec. 10, 2015, the defendant entered the same store, went to the candy isle took merchandise and when confronted by two male employees the defendant brandished a knife and escaped.
On Dec. 11, 2015, just after midnight, the defendant entered the store again and stole several Reese’s peanut butter cups.
When confronted by a female employee, the defendant threatened the victim and pulled a knife and waved it in the air, after which time he left.
Approximately, 14 hours later on the same day, the defendant wearing the same clothing from the robbery the night before, came back to the 7-Eleven, went to the back of the store, took merchandise, and left the store, only to be followed by the shift manager from the first robbery, who jumped over the counter, alerted the police and pointed him out around the corner.
The defendant was arrested right across the street from the Downtown Newark Police Precinct on Broad Street, after attempting to discard his clothes in a building.
Defendant had the knife in his possession when arrested, Assistant Prosecutor Goldberg said.