Cox pleads guilty to robbery charge

A Sinking Spring man indicted in September for robbing the Flagway in Greenfield has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to four years in prison.

Anthony Todd Cox was charged with first-degree felony aggravated robbery after he was alleged to have robbed the gas station at knifepoint on Aug. 8 and escaped with approximately $375. 

Cox appeared Friday in Highland County Common Pleas Court before Judge Rocky Coss, with his attorney, Lee Koogler. 

The state was represented by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins. 

Cox admitted that he was under the influence when the incident occurred, but he denied having a weapon. It was stated in court that the store clerk reported that she believed she saw him flash a knife. 

He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of robbery, a felony of the second degree. Coss said that the charge was changed to read that Cox, "committed a theft offense ... and threatened to injure or inflict physical harm," because the victim believed that she was being threatened with a deadly weapon. 

During sentencing, Koogler said that Cox was remorseful for robbing the gas station. However, Koogler said, upon repeated viewing of  the security tapes, he never saw Cox brandish a weapon. 

"He was inebriated," Koogler said. "He was incredibly foolish."

Cox addressed the court, saying, "I want to apologize to the community and to the lady (who was working at the gas station). I believe it would have had a different outcome had I not been under the influence of drugs." 

Coss followed the state's recommendation and sentenced Cox to four years in prison, with 66 days of jail time credit. He is scheduled to pay restitution of approximately $375.