YOUNGSTOWN — Assistant Prosecutor Nick Brevetta said he realizes he probably sounded more like a defense attorney than a prosecutor in explaining why he plans to recommend Ladale Jennings get probation and no jail time in a Feb. 23, 2020, robbery and burglary in Austintown.

Jennings will be sentenced at 9 a.m. June 10 after a presentence investigation is completed. He is free on bond.

“I’m arguing, oddly enough, not to put him in prison,” Brevetta told Judge John Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday. Later in the hearing, Jennings, 21, pleaded guilty to reduced charges of robbery and burglary. He could get about four years in prison.

Jennings was indicted on aggravated robbery, robbery and aggravated burglary, offenses for which Jennings could have gotten more than 10 years in prison if convicted.

Jennings and two other men are accused of robbing a man of cash and marijuana at an apartment complex. One of the other men, Archelaus K. Williams, 23, also is charged in the case. The third suspect, who was in his 30s, later died after being struck by a car in Akron, Brevetta said.

Williams was indicted on similar charges as Jennings, and his case is pending.

Brevetta told the judge he agreed to reduce the charges to lower-level felonies because Jennings cooperated with police and helped identify the third defendant in the case — the man who died. Brevetta said the third man is the one who “brought the gun” to the robbery.

Bretta said he believes Jennings did not know that the third man had a weapon or that it would be used in the crime. And he said said he does not believe Jennings had ever been arrested before.

Brevetta said the circumstances should “enable Mr. Jennings to hopefully avoid prison” and possibly have his criminal record sealed at some point.

Brevetta asked that the Community Corrections Association of Youngstown carry out a presentence investigation of Jennings’ background.

“To be quite honest, I think if anything (in the presentence investigation) we will find that Mr. Jennings is a fine member of the community aside from this incident,” Brevetta said.

He added that Jennings’ parents “impressed me throughout this process. I know that sounds weird, but I pay attention to that. Unfortunately, that is very rare.”

Brevetta said that both of Jennings’ parents have been involved throughout the case.

Jennings’ attorney, J.P. Laczko, said this crime is “completely out of character for Mr. Jennings.”