Columbia Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Robbery in Mall Parking Lot

A Columbia man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in an armed robbery in the parking lot at The Mall in Columbia that was observed by a police surveillance team posted in a nearby parking garage in September.

Odell Kareme Copeland, 32, of Eliots Oak Rd., pleaded guilty to armed robbery on Feb. 22.

On Tuesday, he was sentenced at Howard County Circuit Court.

Police, who watched the robbery, said Copeland and another man, Pierre Antwan Booth, brandished a handgun to rob a man of a cell phone, car keys, a pack of cigarettes and $75 after approaching the man's vehicle in the mall parking lot.

In the setencing hearing, Copeland's defense attorney highlighted the fact that it was Booth who was holding the gun, according to Wayne Kirwan, a spokesperson for the Howard County state's attorney's office.

But Judge Timothy McCrone said Copeland had an extensive criminal record and that armed robbery is inherently dangerous, according to Kirwan.

Copeland was sentenced to 12 years followed by five years of supervised probation.

Booth, 29, of Randallstown, was also sentenced to 12 years in February for his involvement in the crime.

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