A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty to his role in a purse theft and sneaker robbery last year. Levi Joseph Caroll, 21, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and conspiracy to commit theft. In addition, he was sentenced to 18 months of probation and avoided the far more severe felony charges of robbery-inflicting immediate bodily injury and robbery-taking property by force, as well as associated conspiracy charges, all of which were dismissed by prosecutors.
The victim told police that a meeting had been arranged through Facebook marketplace to all a pair of sneakers for $300.
surveillance footage shows a white Chevrolet Malibu enter the parking lot of the predetermined meeting location, a Wawa convenience store, at 6:42 pm and parking a few spaces away from the victim’s Nissan Altima.
Although his accomplices, Chase Peklak,21, and Andrew Leighton Metzler, 21, wore masks concealing their faces. Carroll had nothing on his face, as he emerged from the Malibu. The victim said he recognized Carroll as the brother of one of their friends.
According to police, Carroll asked for the victim’s Cash App and asked to take custody of the sneakers. He then claimed he was having issues with the application and stated he would complete the transaction when he returned to the Malibu.
The victim turned down that offer, which enraged Carroll, who reached out to take the shoes. The victim refused to relinquish the shoes, prompting Carroll to say, “Don’t try anything.” Carroll and the victim tussled over the shoes and Carroll punched the victim in the face.
Despite striking the victim, police say Carroll was unsuccessful in relieving the victim of the shoes. As this struggle over the shoes was transpiring, Metzler entered the back of the Nissan and stole the pocketbook of a second victim.
Once Metzler returned to the Malibu, Peklak reversed out of the parking space, with Carroll still inside the victim’s vehicle. However he briefly waits, and Carroll exits the Altima and gets into Peklak’s car. The second victim’s purse was tossed out of the car onto nearby grass.
However, Carroll, the criminal mastermind, realized he had left his phone in the victim’s car. Finding the victim at a red light, Carroll attempted to reclaim his device, however, the victim chucked Carroll’s phone in front of a nearby home. He then knocked on the door of the home, using a contrived tale of a phone-stealing youth named “Jayce.” The homeowner did not fall for the ruse and called the police. Officers soon found and stopped the white Malibu and discovered a BB gun hidden in the backseat.
Carroll told police he met with someone to purchase a pair of sneakers. He added that he thought the seller was intimidated by him and “weird” when he asked to see the shoes. He said he “snatched them away fand we got into a scuffle.”
Carroll claimed he only punched the victim because he saw a pistol in the victim’s pocket. He said that fear of punching the victim was why he didn’t call the police.
Metzler was charged with felony counts of robbery by force, and misdemeanor counts of theft and receiving stolen property. Metzler pleaded guilty in April to felony conspiracy to commit robbery and awaits sentencing in August.
