Elyria man gets prison for 2024 robbery and assault at Middle Avenue laundromat

An Elyria man who robbed a woman at a Middle Avenue laundromat in November, then assaulted a good Samaritan who tried to intervene has been sentenced to at least four years in prison after pleading guilty in the case. Laurence Carr, 46, of Spruce Street, pleaded guilty Thursday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court to aggravated robbery and felonious assault, both felonies, and a misdemeanor assault charge. Judge Raymond Ewers immediately sentenced Carr to 3-to-4 1/2 years in prison on the robbery and felonious assault charges to run concurrent to one another, meaning at the same time and not one after another. He also gave Carr one year in prison for illegally possessing a gun in a motor vehicle during a separate arrest in January 2024, a case in which Carr pleaded guilty to a felony weapons possession charge. That year in prison is mandatory, not eligible for early release and must be served first. Upon release, Carr will be on post-release control, which is similar to parole, for up to three years. He got credit for 59 days spent in jail awaiting trial, according to court records. Other than to say his client was remorseful, defense attorney John Toth said he had not comment on the plea and sentencing. Carr and Mallory Davenport were arrested by Elyria police on Nov. 23, 2024, after officers responded to a report that Carr had assaulted an employee and a customer at the South Side Laundromat at 818 Middle Ave. that night. Carr and Davenport allegedly assaulted the employee and when a bystander tried to help her, Carr punched that person in the face. That victim then tried to shock Carr with a Taser device but it didn't work, according to a police report. Video evidence allegedly showed Davenport throwing one of the victims to the ground outside the laundromat and punching her nine times. Carr also kicked the woman in the head, face and body while she was on the ground, police said. The duo stole two bags before fleeing in a silver Dodge Journey, in which they were later stopped by police officers. Davenport, 39, also of Spruce Street, has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated robbery, felonious assault and misdemeanor assault, according to court records. She is free on bond awaiting trial in Ewers' courtroom, which is scheduled to begin July 17. Davenport was convicted of felony child endangering in 2021 in Common Pleas Court, and sentenced to one year in prison. Carr has prior felony convictions for theft, identity theft, misuse of a credit card and receiving stolen property, according to court records. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.