After 35-minutes of deliberation on Monday October 15th, a jury found 39-year-old Harold Stewart guilty for robbery and battery on a person over 65 years old.

Stewart will be sentenced in Pinellas County Courtroom 7 on Monday, October 22 at 10am.
The state attorney's office is seeking a 40 year sentence with a minimum mandatory 30 years, due to Stewart's criminal history.

The robbery and battery gained media attention after police officers and several people in the community came together to help Jeffrey Hardeman, after Stewart beat the veteran with his own walker.

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Previously released on 09-08-16

Date: Thu Sep 08, 2016

Arrest: Man with Walker Beaten and Robbed

This afternoon, St. Petersburg detectives arrested Harold Stewart, DOB 4-27-79, for the armed robbery of Jeffery Hardeman.

Detectives arrested him in Tampa and also located the Dodge Durango seen in the surveillance video. We were able to identify him through tips from the public.

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Previously released on 09-08-16

For clarification on today's money presentation to the victim in the walker robbery, Jeffery Hardeman, the St. Petersburg Police Department has learned that Mr. Hardeman is running behind schedule due to a doctor's visit. The presentation to Mr. Hardeman will take place at 2510 Central Avenue #101, at approximately 2:45 p.m.

Since the previous media release, a retired New York police officer, Joseph M. Abolafia, has also come forth and written a personal check to Mr. Hardeman for another $600.00. That check will also be presented to Mr. Hardeman at approximately 2:45 p.m.

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Previously released on 09-03-16

Update: Man with Walker Beaten and Robbed

Yesterday evening, September 7, 2016, a man walked into the St. Petersburg Police Department. The man wished to donate $600.00 in cash to the elderly victim who was robbed and beaten with his own walker at Walmart, 201 34th Street North, on September 2, 2016. The man, who identified himself as "Tom"
but otherwise wished to remain anonymous, left an envelope with the $600.00 in cash and this note: "From 1 vet to another hope this makes things better".

The St. Petersburg Police Department has contacted the elderly victim in this robbery, Jeffery Hardeman, and will present him with this Good Samaritan cash donation around 2:00 p.m. today.

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Previously released on 09-02-16

On Friday, September 2, 2016, at 1:04 p.m., in the parking lot of the Walmart at 201 34th Street North, a 66 year old man was walking toward the store utilizing a walker. The elderly man was then approached by a much younger man who asked for the time of day.

The younger man then put the elderly man in a choke hold, threw the elderly man to the ground and began punching him. The younger man also used the elderly man's walker to proceed to beat the elderly man.

The younger man stole the elderly man's wallet, cash, and other personal items and fled to a blue Dodge Durango. A witness to the incident believed the license plate on the Durango may have started with the letters "GKA."

The robber is described as a black man, 29-35 years old, 6-00 to 6-02 in height, 190-210 pounds, and wearing dark clothing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the St. Petersburg Police Department at 727-893-7780.

Attached is a video of the blue Dodge Durango entering and leaving the Walmart parking lot.