News

June 30, 2009

Teen suspect to be tried in adult court

Michael D’Andree Wilson, 16, of Plymouth, was 15 at time of alleged gunpoint robbery.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – A teenage boy accused by West Pittston police in a gunpoint robbery of a man at an automated teller machine will face charges as an adult in Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Michael D’Andree Wilson, 16, of Plymouth, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Monday sending charges of robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy to county court.

West Pittston police allege Wilson, then 15 years old, and Malcolm Laknight Bates, 18, of Plymouth, conspired in the Nov. 27 ATM robbery outside a Bank of America branch.

Police suspect the two used a global positioning system unit to find ATMs in a plan to rob people with a BB gun, according to arrest records.

President Judge Chester Muroski last week denied a request by Wilson’s lawyer, Joseph F. Saporito Jr., to have the case transferred to Juvenile Court.

Saporito claimed the juvenile court system would better serve Wilson because of his age, mental capacity and maturity, according to court records.

Prosecutors said Wilson is incapable of being rehabilitated in the juvenile system, citing his removal from a juvenile placement facility for fighting the same day he was sentenced by a Luzerne County judge.

Wilson was sentenced in January for robbing a pizza delivery employee with a BB gun three days before the alleged incident in West Pittston, according to court records.

Bates is facing three counts of criminal conspiracy, two counts of receiving stolen property and one count each of access device fraud and theft in county court.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police said Wilson and Bates were driving around using a GPS unit to find ATMs where they could rob people withdrawing money. When they spotted a man at an outside ATM at Wyoming and Luzerne avenues, Bates stopped and Wilson approached him armed with what was believed to be a handgun.

Wilson fled with the man’s wallet containing $60 and credit cards. Police said a credit card was used to purchase minutes for Bates’ cell phone.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.

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