Courtroom behavior gets Powell man in cellphone robbery extra jail time

Christine Holmes
Zanesville Times Recorder
Joshua Slye kicks his feet up on the defense table after being sentenced to eight years in prison for robbery on Monday.

ZANESVILLE - A 27-year-old Powell man is heading to prison for eight years after being sentenced for robbing a Muskingum County cellphone store, but first he must spend 30 days in local jail for his behavior in the courtroom Monday morning. 

In March, a case was filed against Joshua Slye, who was accused of driving a recently stolen car involved in a police pursuit to a phone store where he attempted to steal a cellphone. 

Before he could leave, a pregnant store employee tried to stop Slye from walking out with the phone, prompting an altercation. 

According to Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor John Litle, Slye punched the woman twice - once in the arm and once in the face. 

Slye's attorney, Keith Edwards, said Slye pushed the woman, which left her with a scratch on her face from the phone box. 

Either action was enough to result in a robbery charge, Edwards said. 

When a passerby stopped to help, Litle said Slye "snapped" a Taser and was able to get away without the phone. 

"He didn't attempt to use it on anybody," Edwards clarified. 

Later in Newark, Slye was arrested by police after being seen throwing bags of trash out of the car and urinating on them.

Through surveillance images posted on social media, Slye was able to be identified as the suspect in the Muskingum County robbery. 

In addition to one second-degree felony count of robbery with a repeat violent offender specification, Slye was also charged with aggravated robbery, theft and possession of criminal tools. 

The latter three charges were dismissed at sentencing. 

Slye admitted that he has faced mental health and substance abuse issues since the age of 20 and has a habit of stealing from others.

"Your honor, I am ashamed of my actions," Slye said. "This was not something I was raised to do."

Judge Mark Fleegle reviewed Slye's criminal history, noting nine misdemeanors and two active theft warrants out of different counties.

"Your history goes back to juvenile, actually," Fleegle said. 

In 2014, Slye was convicted of a felony in Franklin County for robbing a bank and was placed on community control. 

"Obviously Franklin County's approach to not punishing his previous robbery was not effective," Litle said after the hearing. 

Fleegle sentenced Slye to eight mandatory years in prison with three years of mandatory post-release control to follow.

"You have skated on virtually everything you've had," Fleegle said. 

The judge added that prison time was necessary for Slye to learn that he can't live like he has been. 

As Fleegle read the terms of Slye's sentence, the defendant became frustrated and sat down in his chair, kicking his feet up on the table. 

For his actions, Fleegle also added 30 days of jail to be served for contempt of court.