BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- Three young men admitted Monday that they robbed a Taylor Mill pawn shop in April -- an incident that erupted in gunfire -- but they're hoping their reputations as good students will prevent them from spending decades behind bars.
One even has one of the Tristate's most prominent Catholic leaders supporting him.
Matt Johnson, 17, Brandon Crouthers and Travis Evans, both 18, will have to wait until Jan. 13 to learn their punishment from Kenton Circuit Judge Steven Jaeger. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Crouthers pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of robbery, one for the pawn shop shootout and two for other robberies. Mr. Evans, the pawn shop robbery getaway driver, pleaded guilty to that robbery and an unrelated burglary of a neighbor's house.
Each robbery count carries a possible 10 to 20 years in prison. Mr. Evans could get an additional five to 10 years for the break-in. A lot of Mr. Evans' friends and supporters, including Thomas More College President William Cleves, hope he doesn't get a long prison term.
The Rev. Mr. Cleves sent a letter to the judge urging that he take into account the post-April Mr. Evans -- a Thomas More student who is on track to get either an A or a B in every class.
The college president, at the request of Mr. Evans' mother, visited when Mr. Evans was in jail. Mrs. Evans works for the school's career planning office.
"I sat across the table from a very frightened and timid young man who had done, in the space of a few short weeks, some incredibly stupid thing," the Rev. Mr. Cleves wrote. "The person with whom I spoke did not seem to have the mind of a criminal."
The best thing for Mr. Evans, the Rev. Mr. Cleves wrote, is that he make restitution to the community while remaining a student at Thomas More.
That letter is one of many sent to Judge Jaeger on behalf of the three young men. Others came from neighbors and friends.
All three convicted robbers are former students at Simon Kenton High School in Independence. Mr. Evans and Mr. Johnson made bond and have been out of jail -- Mr. Johnson on home incarceration. Mr. Crouthers remains behind bars.
Mr. Johnson, the most seriously injured in the shootout April 9 with pawn clerk George Waters, has recovered from injuries, initially thought to be life-threatening. Mr. Crouthers was treated and released. Both were hit by gunfire when Mr. Waters faked a heart attack, fell to the floor of the pawn shop and grabbed his gun. The clerk was not charged.
