Teen sentenced in Parma pet store theft

CLEVELAND (WJW) — A teen who pleaded guilty in the theft of a valuable bulldog puppy from a Parma pet store was sentenced Thursday to six months in jail, followed by one year of probation.

Markeze Terrell Mark Anthony Williams, 18, of Cleveland , was indicted in March on felony counts of aggravated theft and tampering with evidence in the theft of an Olde English Bulldogge from the Petland along West Ridgewood Drive in Parma earlier that month.

Williams took a plea deal on Tuesday, entering guilty pleas to the aggravated theft charge as well as his second charge, which was amended to a lesser charge of obstructing justice, court records show.

“I know what I did was a bad thing. I am sincerely apologetic,” he told the court on Thursday. “I’m willing to pay for my crimes. … I’m very, very sorry for what I’ve done.”

Williams on March 9 came into the pet store asking about bulldogs, then asked to see one. He was left in a room to socialize with the puppy, then left the store with it, according to a police report.

Amy Parker, the store worker who handed off the 9-week-old female puppy, named Hazel, to Williams that day, told the court the incident has made her mistrustful of others.

“Had he brought that puppy back that day or even several days later, I wouldn’t be here today,” she said. “I did my job and thought he was going to play with the puppy like everyone else was.”

The dog was not with Williams when U.S. Marshals arrested him that month, and he initially refused to tell authorities where it is.

Williams’ father, Terry Williams Sr., pleaded to keep his son out of jail, saying the teen had taken direction from relatives who had put him up to the theft.

“Markeze was trying to help a family member out. … I’m not gonna let my son go down for anything. He was just following what they said,” Terry said.

Markeze said Thursday he was paid $700 for the puppy. Terry said he has since been working with police to find the dog.

Police officers served a search warrant at the home of a Williams family relative, but did not find the dog, prosecutors said Thursday.

The dog has been missing for 132 days, said Parker.

Markeze was ordered to pay $500 in restitution to cover the store’s insurance costs, and is now barred from having pets. He is now barred from all Petland stores, as per his plea deal.

The judge also ordered him to undergo psychological counseling.

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