Greenfield man pleads guilty to attempted robbery

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GREENFIELD — A Greenfield man will spend five years in prison after admitting he attempted to rob a gas station last year.

Steven C. Anderson Jr., 33, 1839 W. Country Lane, Greenfield, pleaded guilty this week to attempted robbery as a Level 3 felony.

Hancock Circuit Court Judge Richard Culver on Thursday handed down an eight-year sentence. Five years will be spent in an Indiana Department of Correction facility. The other three will be spent on probation.

As part of a deal Anderson accepted from prosecutors, the remaining charges he faced — intimidation as a Level 5 felony, pointing a firearm as a Level 6 felony and three misdemeanors related to resisting law enforcement — were dropped.

Last December, Anderson entered the Speedway gas station in the 2200 block of North State Street in Greenfield wearing a dark-colored mask and carrying a handgun, police said.

Anderson pointed the gun at a gas station clerk and demanded money, according to charging documents.

When the clerk refused to hand over cash because she assumed the gun was fake, Anderson ran from the store, court records state.

Originally charged with robbery as a Level 3 felony, Anderson pleaded guilty to attempted robbery since the clerk never handed over any money, said deputy prosecutor Marie Castetter.

Gas station employees called 911, and police stopped a man who matched a description of the suspect, later identified as Anderson, a few minutes later walking along New Road in Greenfield, court records state.

When officers told Anderson to stop and put his hands in the air, he turned and walked away from them, according to court documents.

After he refused to comply with officers, a police K9 tackled him, according to police reports. Anderson then began hitting the dog, documents state.

He was combative with officers, too, trying to break free from the officer leading him away from the scene and lunging at other officers, charging documents state.

At one point, Anderson threatened to kill an officer if he continued to put his hands on him, court records state.

Once arrested, he was taken to Hancock Regional Hospital and treated for bite injuries before being taken to the Hancock County Jail.

A Level 3 felony count carries a penalty of three to 16 years.