A man scheduled to go on trial Monday instead pleaded guilty to robbing a woman at gunpoint outside her home, the Cobb County District Attorney said.
Erico Alexander Williams pleaded guilty Friday to armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle and possessing a firearm during commission of a felony for the 2012 crimes, Cobb County DA Vic Reynolds’ office said. Williams was sentenced to 15 years, with 10 years to serve in custody.
About 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2012, the victim parked her car outside her apartment on Twin Hill Court in Austell and was walking inside alone while talking on her phone, according to investigators. Williams, who was 19 at the time, appeared out of nowhere and confronted her with a large black handgun, Reynolds said.
“The victim feared for her life,” Assistant DA Brendan F. Murphy said. “He told her, ‘Hang up the phone and don’t say anything if you want to live,’ and later stated, ‘This .45 is loaded.’”
Williams demanded the woman’s phone, purse and car keys before leaving the complex in the woman’s Dodge Magnum.
“The accused took the victim’s phone and purse and made the victim take him to her car,” Williams’ arrest warrant states. “He took the keys from the victim and then entered the victim’s vehicle before throwing the victim’s purse back to her.”
A witness was able to identify the suspect as a former resident of the complex, and the victim was able to identify Williams from a series of photos, the arrest warrant states.
Williams had been held in the Cobb County jail without bond since November, when he was re-arrested for failing to appear for a court appearance, booking records show.
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