UPDATE | A man arrested last January on charges of robbing convenience stores in Glendale, Long Beach and Carson by brandishing a makeshift blowtorch and Taser pleaded no contest to second degree-robbery today.

The man, 41-year-old Jermeile Hairston, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the heists, which took place on January 17 and 18. Hairston threatened to kill the employees during the heists, according to prosecutors.

Hairston was initially charged with three counts each of second-degree robbery and criminal threats, as well as one count of possession of flammable material.

However, as part of his plea deal, the other counts were dismissed, a court clerk said.

Hairston was convicted in 1994 of aggravated robbery in Hamilton, Ohio and was already in Los Angeles County jail when the security photos of him committing the robberies were circulated.

City News Service contributed to this report.

JANUARY 23 4:27PM  |  The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office (LADA) confirmed a man arrested in Glendale on Friday morning for brandishing a makeshift blowtorch in a convenience store committed a similar crime in Long Beach on Sunday, as well as in Carson earlier this week.

Jermeil Hairston, armed with an aerosol can and a taser, allegedly threatened to kill store employees when he robbed the three convenience stores, the LADA said.

He was charged with three counts of robbery, three counts of criminal threats and two arson charges.

According to a jail records search, Hairston has been arrested at least three times since January 9, 2015.

Hairston was also convicted in 1994 of aggravated robbery in Hamilton, Ohio, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

PREVIOUSLY: Man Arrested in Glendale for Armed Robbery With Makeshift Blowtorch a Subject of Interest in Similar Long Beach Case, Detectives Say

JANUARY 23 10:48AM  |  A man wanted for brandishing a makeshift blowtorch in Long Beach on Sunday was likely arrested in Glendale on Friday morning for a similar incident that happened on Saturday night, police said.

Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of Santa Fe Avenue at about 4:45AM Sunday and learned an armed robbery had just occurred at a business, said LBPD spokeswoman Marlene Arrona.

Witnesses told police that a male adult suspect pointed a small aerosol can and a lighter at a clerk, ignited a flame and demanded money.

The suspect then fled with an undetermined amount of cash. The victim did not appear to sustain any injuries, Arrona said.

A similar incident occurred in Glendale Saturday night at about 10:15PM, when Glendale police officers dispatched to the Gardenia Market and Deli at 4121 Pennsylvania Avenue learned that a man brandished a similar makeshift blowtorch and robbed the market, said Glendale police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.

Glendale police earlier this week obtained security photos of the suspect committing the crime, and on Wednesday, identified 41-year-old Jermeile Hairston as the suspect of the investigation.

Glendale police arrested Hairston on suspicion of robbery in the Glendale crime, and he is being held on $50,000 bail. He is expected to be arraigned today in Glendale, Lightfoot said.

It has not been confirmed that Hairston is the suspect in Sunday’s incident, but police believe he may be.

“According to our detectives, the suspect mentioned in the Glendale case is a ‘subject of interest’ in the Long Beach case,” Arrona said. “However, they are still weighing all the evidence to determine if he is our suspect.”

Lightfoot said Hairston may also be involved in a similar incident in Carson. He was arrested for the incident on January 19, and released on the 21st. 

Lightfoot also said Hairston may also be responsible for other area robberies.

He faces charges of three counts of robbery, three counts of criminal threats and two arson charges, Lightfoot said.

According to a jail records search, Hairston has been arrested at least three times since January 9, 2015.

Hairston was also convicted in 1994 of aggravated robbery in Hamilton, Ohio, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

City News Service contributed to this report.