A Troy man convicted of the aggravated robberies Thanksgiving weekend of the Tipp O’ The Town restaurant in Tipp City and the Pearson House in West Milton was sentenced Monday, March 21, to eight years in prison.

Walter Schwytzer III, 44, earlier pleaded guilty in Miami County Common Pleas Court.

Judge Jeannine Pratt said Schwytzer previously served three times in state prison and once in federal prison for bank robbery.

Before hearing the sentence, he said he apologized for his actions. “I have a problem with drug addiction and I make poor choices when I am on drugs,” he said.

Paul Watkins,an assistant county prosecutor, asked Pratt to impose eight years, as recommended, saying his Schwytzer was “a very serious and violent offender.”

Schwytzer was arrested Nov. 28 outside the Tipp O’ The Town on West Main Street at Interstate 75 after he held up the business but was stopped in the parking lot by an area firearms instructor.

He was accused of walking into the restaurant just before noon and handing a waitress a note saying, “I have a gun. Give me the money fast and quietly.”

The waitress complied, the man put the money in his pocket and told her to “have a nice day” before running out the door, Tipp City police reported.

A restaurant customer who was told what had just happened chased after the robber and stopped him as he started getting into a car. The customer was found by police holding the alleged robber in a headlock behind the business. The customer told police he had a license to carry a concealed weapon and was a weapons course instructor. He had a weapon with him and drew the gun when he saw the alleged robber getting into the vehicle. He ordered the man out of the vehicle and onto the ground, where he held him until police arrived.

Police said $547 stolen from the business was recovered. The judge said Monday she wanted to recognize the citizen for his “courageous acts” in assisting helping law enforcement.

Schwytzer also was indicted for aggravated robbery in the Nov. 27 hold up of the Pearson House on State Route 48 in downtown West Milton. Police there said a man walked into the business around 9:30 a.m. and handed an employee a note indicating he had a gun and demanding money.

The man took the money and left on foot, police said. Schwytzer was ordered to pay $300 restitution to Pearson House for that robbery.

The aggravated robbery charges are first-degree felonies carried possible prison terms of three to 11 years each.

Schwytzer was credited for 115 days served in jail and ordered to pay court costs in addition to restitution.