Springfield serial robber pleads guilty, faces 52 years in prison

A Springfield man connected to a string of business break-ins and armed robberies across the city has pleaded guilty.

Ricky Hand, 46, faced 30 charges of breaking and entering, safe-cracking, aggravated robbery, abduction and attempted safe-cracking, according to court records.

He pleaded guilty to seven of the original charges in a Clark County Common Pleas courtroom Wednesday morning. He admitted to aggravated robbery, robbery and breaking and entering, and he faces a possible 52 years in prison on the charges, Clark County Prosecutor Andy Wilson said.

He faces an additional one to three years for violating his parole on a previous robbery charge.

On Oct. 2011, Hand pleaded guilty in a robbery case and was sentenced to four years in prison for the crime, according to Clark County court records.

He was out of prison and on parole for less than six months before his last crime spree started in January of this year.

Hand is currently booked in the Clark County jail as he awaits his sentencing set for June 22, according to court records.

Hand allegedly used a gun in 11 of the 13 business crimes he committed, according to court documents.

He robbed Jordan Dessouky, 19, who is a clerk at the Ooh-Ooh Drive Thru, 748 Selma Road, twice during the crime spree.

“The second time he had a knife and a gun and I was like, ‘This guy is prepared, he knows what he’s doing,’ and the first time he came through he only had a gun,” Dessouky said.

The suspect broke into or robbed a variety of businesses across the city, including drive-thrus, bars, a nail salon and restaurants like Burger King and Long John Silvers, police said.

He was arrested by Springfield police March 23 and charged with attempted robbery, according to a Springfield Police Division report. Officers said he tried to hold up John’s Drive-Thru, 826 W. Main St., but was shot at by the clerk.

In that crime, Hand brandished a fake gun while he tried to hold up the business, said Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Picek.

“He raised a fake, plastic handgun in his hand, began to point it at the clerk who was present — at that time the clerk removed his own handgun from his pocket and fired three shots at the defendant striking (Hand),” Picek said during the plea hearing Wednesday.

As one of Hand’s several victims, Dessouky said a possible 55 years is what the criminal should spend in jail.

“It doesn’t make me happy or sad — he just got what he deserved,” Dessouky said.

About the Author