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Robbery suspect takes plea bargain A Medford man accused of participating in two home-invasion robberies has pleaded guilty to reduced charges. Jeffery Mark Tatum, 25, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. In exchange, prosecutors dropped five robbery and assault charges. Tatum faces up to five years in prison. Jackson County Judge Daniel Harris accepted the deal, pending an unscheduled sentencing date. According to authorities, Tatum and co-defendant Michael Wayne Gelatt forced their way into Medford homes on the nights of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 with the intent to rob the residents. In both cases, shots were fired. Deputy District Attorney John Bondurant said the first robbery occurred when Tatum and Gelatt, 21, confronted two men in the driveway of a home in the 800 block of West 13th Street. The victims were relieved of cash and music CDs, Bondurant said. When they tried to drive away, a shot was fired into the headlight of their car. The next night, Tatum and Gelatt forced their way into a home in the 400 block of South Ivy Street and pistol-whipped the lone occupant, which caused the gun to go off accidentally, Bondurant said. The victims were unknown to the defendants, who were searching for drugs and cash, Bondurant said. Gelatt, who has been identified as the gunman in both cases, awaits trial on 13 counts of robbery, assault, theft, carrying a dangerous weapon and reckless endangerment. No trial date has been set. He is also one of three co-defendants in another home-invasion robbery that occurred Aug. 24. A two-day trial in that case is set next week. In addition, Gelatt awaits trial on unrelated drug charges. He turned 21 in jail Oct. 17. All the defendants were in custody in the Jackson County Jail. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA