A 36-year-old Clermont County man has been indicted on charges including aggravated robbery and felonious assault after allegedly holding up a Taco Bell in Union Township at gunpoint and threatening to shoot employees if they didn't hand over cash. Frank Schmidt now faces up to 57 years in prison if convicted, and he's being held on a $750,000 bond.
The robbery happened at the Taco Bell on Eastgate South Drive on Oct. 25 at about 10:40 p.m., according to Local 12. Police said the armed suspect fled the scene before officers arrived, making off with an undisclosed amount of money, per WLWT.
Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve said Schmidt entered the restaurant and threatened to shoot employees unless they gave him money, according to WKRC. Schmidt then took cash from the Taco Bell before leaving, the station reports.
Detectives Tracked Schmidt Down Within Days
Detectives identified and located Schmidt after a multiday investigation, the station's report notes. Police said they identified him using surveillance video and witness statements, per WKRC's reporting. Officers arrested him on Oct. 28, three days after the robbery, the station's report states.
At the time of his arrest, Schmidt was being held at the Clermont County Jail on a charge of aggravated robbery, the outlet reported in its initial coverage of the arrest. Police said the gun used in the robbery was tucked in his waistband when he was taken into custody, and that the weapon had been stolen in Kentucky, per the same outlet's reporting.
What Schmidt Now Faces
Schmidt has since been indicted and is charged with aggravated robbery, felonious assault and gun charges, according to the station's report. He is being held on a $750,000 bond while the case moves forward.
Ohio law lays out how firearm specifications can stack when a defendant is convicted of or pleads guilty to multiple felonies that include certain serious offenses. Under Ohio Revised Code section 2929.14, a court must impose the specified prison term for each of the two most serious firearm specifications tied to those felonies, and may also impose terms for any remaining specifications. The code excerpt does not detail how the statute applies specifically to Schmidt's case or explain how the reported 57-year maximum was calculated.
