Crime & Safety

Jewelry Store Theft Suspects Plead Not Guilty to Attempted Robbery

One of the men charged with aggravated robbery is from Kent.

A Kent man and Akron man pleaded not guilty to felony charges stemming from an attempted robbery of Kent Jewelry on June 14. 

Kent Police responded an alarm just before 5 p.m. June 14 and found the business owner had been assaulted and was hurt while two men tried to steal jewelry from the store.

The two men came in with a stun gun and are accused of hurting the owner and stealing from the store, Dennis Andrei, 51, according to the Record Courier

Police arrested Justin Smith, 29, of Akron while he was trying to flee the scene, and Shawn Cook, 35, of Kent turned himself, according to Kent Police.

Cook and Smith were both indicted by a Portage County grand jury on one count each of aggravated robbery, which is a first-degree felony. 

Both men pleaded not guilty Monday and were held in Portage County jail on a 10 percent of $75,000 bond. 


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