Teen Pleads Guilty in Robbery

A Florida teen pleaded guilty in the armed robbery of a pizza delivery man. Pleading guilty could land him up to 30 years in prison, but spare him a life sentence for violating probation for the killing of a young girl in 1999.

Lionel Tate, who was once the youngest person in U.S. history to receive a life prison sentence, has pleaded guilty to the recent robbery charges.

Tate came to national attention when he was convicted of first-degree murder of 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick. Lawyers representing Tate claimed that Tate was imitating pro-wrestling moves that he had seen on television on Eunick, accidentally killing her.

The then 12-year-old Tate pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and was sentenced to 10 years probation.

This recent armed robbery violated this probation.

On the night of the robbery, Tate now 19, called a Domino's Pizza from a friend's apartment and ordered four pizzas. When the delivery man arrived, Tate hid behind the door with a revolver. When the delivery man saw him, he dropped the pizza boxes and ran. The delivery man later identified Tate as the perpetrator.

Found on the pizza boxes were Tate's fingerprints and on his cell phone were text messages planning the robbery. Tate's attorney said that the evidence in the robbery was too “overwhelming” and that Tate got the best deal that he could.

Judge Joel T. Lazarus says that he plans on imposing sentences for violation of Tate's probation as well as the robbery concurrently.