One of the three Glouster residents connected to an October murder case appeared in the Athens County Common Pleas Court last week and changed his plea to guilty of two charges of receiving stolen property.
Robert Degarmore, 52, originally pleaded not guilty to the indictment at his Jan. 22 arraignment. As of Friday, however, he admitted to receiving and using a stolen credit card that belonged to the deceased, Paul E. Roberts, who was 63.
Robert Degarmore received a penalty of 18 months in prison and could receive a maximum fine of up to $3,500, according to court documents filed Friday.
Law enforcement officials found the victim when they arrived at his home to arrest his son, Paul J. Roberts, for vandalism.
Paul J. Roberts, 41, was charged with aggravated murder and eight other charges in connection to the incident, which he committed in a timespan of only a couple of weeks.
He was incarcerated on a bond of $950,000 in the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail after his arrest Oct. 18, but was transferred to the Noble Correctional Institution in Caldwell, Ohio, on Jan. 27, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction booking documents.
Paul J. Roberts was also accused of stealing his father’s property, including his 2004 Black Jeep Liberty, a John Deere lawn mower and his credit card.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said that Robert Degarmore was not accused of using any of the elder Roberts’ items other than the credit card.
Robert Degarmore’s sister, Rhonda Degarmore, who was the wife of Paul J. Roberts, accepted a plea deal Dec. 4.
She pleaded guilty to an indictment charging three counts of theft, one count of receiving stolen property and one count of obstructing justice in the murder of Paul E. Roberts.
Blackburn said in an email that Robert will also testify against his brother-in-law, per the plea agreement.
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