LEWISTON — A local man whose mugging of a Chinese food delivery man in April was traced by police to rice in the tread of his sneakers was sentenced Tuesday to spend more than nine months in prison.

Melvin Blake, 23, pleaded guilty to robbery, a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Blake agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of five years with all but nine months and a day suspended. When he is released from prison, he will be on probation for three years, according to Judge Geoffrey Rushlau of 8th District Court.

Charges of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and illegal possession of a firearm were dismissed by prosecutors.

Police said a delivery driver went to 169 Bartlett St. at 8:46 p.m. on April 9 to deliver $72 worth of takeout food from Chopsticks restaurant of Lewiston. The driver called the telephone number he had been given and was told to meet the customer in the hallway.

The driver climbed the stairs to the second-floor landing, where he was met by a male wearing a black Columbia jacket and black pants. According to a police affidavit, the driver told the customer how much was owed for the food. The customer said he did not have the money.

The driver began walking down the stairs to leave the building, when he was confronted in the first-floor hallway by that customer and two other men.

Someone punched the driver in the head. He was also kicked by someone who wore red shoes, the driver later told police.

He dropped the food to the floor and fell back against the stairs, while the three males picked up the food and fled the building through a back door, police said.

A city surveillance camera captured video at Pierce and Birch streets of three males who appeared to be carrying Chinese food takeout containers running down the street shortly after 8:46 p.m. One of the males appeared to be wearing red sneakers, police said.

Police went to Blake’s apartment at 96 Birch St., where they found him and a then-16-year-old boy. Officers saw a pair of red sneakers “with what appeared to be Chinese rice stuck to the bottom of them,” police wrote in an affidavit.

Officers also saw a black Columbia jacket draped over the back of the couch.

One of the officers observed Chinese food takeout containers on top of the garbage can, police said.

Blake told police he had been wearing the red shoes, but had gone grocery shopping at Walmart, bought some marijuana and returned home that night. After he was shown a clip from the surveillance video, he denied knowing anything about the mugging, police said.

Blake and Kulcharan Singh, 19, also of 96 Birch St., were charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor theft. Blake told police he had a gun, for which he was later charged with a misdemeanor before prosecutors dismissed that charge Tuesday.

The juvenile was charged with robbery and theft. He told police he was told to go for a walk with the two men, according to police. The men instructed him to meet with the driver and tell him he had no money. He said Blake and Singh jumped the driver and knocked the food from his arms, then fled with it.

The juvenile denied assaulting the driver. He said he had worn a black Columbia jacket.

On Tuesday, Blake told the judge he was the only one who had assaulted the driver. He said he had punched the man three times in the face then kicked him in the face. Rushlau said he was not impressed by Blake’s confession.

“I know what I did,” Blake said. “I’m just ready to do the time and get out.”

Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bogue told the judge the victim did not go to the hospital and was not treated for his injuries.

While he is on probation, Blake will be barred from having alcohol and illegal drugs, and be required to undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment. He may not have any contact with the victim or any of the other defendants in the case.

Blake and his co-defendants have also been ordered to repay Chopsticks restaurant $72.

Kulcharan is expected back in court Friday to decide whether he will enter into a plea agreement or proceed to trial.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com

Melvin Blake (Androscoggin County Jail photo)

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