Friendly robber pleads guilty, agrees to jail time

A Springfield man who demanded money in a robbery — and then asked for a hug — pleaded guilty to four felonies and will spend time in prison.

David Lee Kerns, 24, pleaded guilty last week to three robbery charges and assaulting a law enforcement officer in two separate cases.

As part of the plea deal, Kerns agreed to spend 120 days in prison for shock incarceration.

If Kerns successfully completes the shock incarceration, he could be released on probation. But a violation of that probation or issues during the shock incarceration could trigger a 15-year prison sentence on the robberies.

According to a probable cause statement, Kerns — armed with a BB gun — robbed Meek's Lumber and Family Dollar in Springfield in July 2013.

Kerns told one of the clerks that he "had a kid on the way" and no job, the statement says. Kerns shook hands with one clerk after a robbery and asked another one for a hug.

In the other case, Kerns tried to rob a Brown Derby store in Springfield by putting his hand under his shirt and pointing his finger like a gun.

The Brown Derby incident wasn't chummy; the clerk hit Kerns with a baseball bat until Kerns left the store.

Police arrived and detained Kerns outside of the Brown Derby, where he was apparently all hugged out. He bit an officer in the hand.

Kerns' lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment.