News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch Announces Guilty Plea of Columbus Man on Robbery Charge

On April 25, 2025, a Columbus man, Ty’kquise Merritt, stole items from a Zanesville convenience store. As Merritt took the items from the cashier’s counter he slowly backed away with his right hand in his waistband and told the cashier, “Don’t follow me, or I’ll shoot you.”

Merritt led the cashier to believe that he had a firearm on him, although the later video made it seem questionable if he was truly armed.

After leaving the store with the stolen merchandise, Merritt drove to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Soon after, he was arrested for breaking into vehicles in the parking lot.

Merritt’s crimes were completely preventable. His victim did not have to suffer a violent attack and the fear that comes with being threatened.

Merritt has been alleged to have been involved in more than twenty-seven car thefts in Columbus. In 2020, once he became an adult, Merritt was charged with burglary in Columbus. His charge was dropped to trespass in a habitation, and he was placed on community control. In 2021 he was convicted of breaking and entering and put on community control. He violated the community control and became an absconder, meaning someone who did not report for supervision, on at least three occasions, after which he was simply placed back on community control to continue his behavior.

The Franklin County court system has twice filed cases against Merritt for failing to appear in court while on bond.

In the beginning of 2025 Merritt was indicted in Columbus for carrying an automatic machinegun in a vehicle, which occurred while he was on probation for the previous two cases.

In February of 2025 Merritt was caught for the weapons violation indictment while in a stolen car. He was released on a recognizance bond and later indicted for the stolen vehicle.

In April, after he robbed the Zanesville business, Merritt was transferred back to Columbus to answer for having committed a violent felony while on probation. His Franklin County judge terminated his community control with no further punishment.

On July 16, 2025, Ty’kquise Merritt plead guilty to Robbery, a felony of the second-degree. He faces a maximum sentence of 8 years in prison.

Ty’kquise Merritt will be sentenced by Judge Gerald Anderson at a later date.

“It is unfortunate that victims in Muskingum County were made to suffer because serious matters were not dealt with seriously in another jurisdiction,” according to APA John Litle who handled the case. “Our recommendation given this background will be for a maximum sentence.”

“The disturbing pattern of criminals not being held accountable in Franklin County is not acceptable in Muskingum County,” said Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch. “Our courts, law enforcement, and the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office appreciate the continued support we receive from the law-abiding citizens of our community.”

###
Follow the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office on Facebook for the most current and complete information.