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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- An Altoona man will serve 2.5 to 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years' probation, after pleading guilty Thursday to charges filed in connection with the October robbery of a local convenience store and his sharing of marijuana with an inmate in Blair County Prison.
Christain Thomas Malique Brown, 25, must also make restitution of $2,000 to FeFi's on Howard Avenue, where he told police he became angry after a Skills game machine credited him $20 for a $40 deposit.
Judge Wade A. Kagarise imposed the negotiated sentence after Brown rendered guilty pleas to robbery, theft, flight to avoid apprehension, two counts of possession with intent to deliver, tampering with evidence and contraband.
While Altoona police were investigating the Oct. 2 robbery, a woman showed up at the police station and told them that Brown had a large amount of cash that he stole from FeFi's.
The woman also told police that she and Brown had been fighting and she fled to the police station after Brown had threatened her with a knife.
Based on the woman's information and a description of the clothing worn by the robber, police were able to identify Brown. Officers subsequently secured a search warrant for a residence on the 300 block of North Seventh Avenue, where Brown was found on the third floor and taken into custody four days after the robbery.
In court documents detailing Brown's charges, police said he admitted to taking money from FeFi's on Oct. 2.
Criminal charges indicate that the employee declined to credit Brown for the alleged error. Brown became angry, jumped over the counter and uttered threats while taking a black lock box with cash.
While police interviewed Brown about the robbery, he described the problem he had with the store's machine and told officers: "They did me wrong," and "They got what they deserved."
Standing before Kagarise in court on Thursday, Brown, who has remained in the county prison since his arrest, was polite. When asked if wanted to render the guilty pleas for the recommended sentence, Brown answered: "Yes, sir."
Brown also rendered guilty pleas to possession of contraband and possession with intent to deliver, filed by Hollidaysburg police based on an inmate's unsuccessful attempt to blame a corrections officer for providing him with marijuana.
The charges indicate that Brown had the marijuana concealed on his body when admitted to the prison. He later explained that when arrested in Altoona, his hands were cuffed behind him so he had no way to remove the marijuana and said nothing about it.
Brown also admitted to sharing the marijuana with his fellow inmate but having no idea of the inmate's plan to accuse a corrections officer of supplying it. Charges indicate that the fellow inmate made up the story because he was angry with the corrections officer who reported him for misconduct.
The negotiated deal was presented to Kagarise by District Attorney Pete Weeks, Chief Public Defender Russ Mongtomery and Hollidaysburg attorney Kristen Anastasi who was appointed to represent Brown in the prison contraband case.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.