WARSAW — A Fort Wayne man will avoid jail time, other than time already served, after police said he held a gun to a man’s head in Warsaw and joined with other men to batter and rob the man of $3,000.

Cedric O. Gamble, Jr.

Cedric O. Gamble, Jr., 30, 1330 Michigan Ave., Fort Wayne, was initially charged with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 2 felony; robbery with a deadly weapon, a level 3 felony; and theft, a level 6 felony. On Nov. 29, Gamble pleaded guilty to the level 6 felony of aiding in intimidation.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Gamble was one of five men who followed a man outside of the Warsaw Timeout Inn on Dec. 10, 2017. Police say Gamble first asked the man for use of a lighter, but when the man asked for the lighter back, Gamble placed a black semi-automatic handgun against the victim’s temple. The victim attempted to escape, but was punched and pistol-whipped before being robbed of $3,000 from his wallet as well as his cellular phone.

When police arrived, they found the victim with a laceration and swelling on the right side of cheek bone area and blood dripping down the right side of his face and complaining of pain.

Gamble was initially arrested in connection with the incident and booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on April 20, with a $25,250 surety and cash bond. He was arrested again on Oct. 29 on a charge of failure to appear. He appeared in Kosciusko County Superior Court I on Thursday, Dec. 20, for sentencing in the 2017 incident and was represented by attorney Karin McGrath.

“I think he’s a pretty great guy who was hanging out with the wrong people,” said McGrath of her client. “He has accepted responsibility for the role that he played.”

McGrath contended that Gamble lacked any kind of criminal history. Judge David Cates told the defendant that he hoped this incident would be Gamble’s first and last offense. “Quite frankly, Mr. Gamble, I do not need any repeat customers.”

Attorney Brad Voelz, the prosecutor in the case, requested a 30-day continuance in order to receive information from the victim regarding possible restitution or for a victim’s impact statement. Cates denied the request.

Cates sentenced Gamble to one year in the Kosciusko County Jail and suspended the sentence in lieu of probation. Gamble was also given credit for 23 days served.