DANVILLE -- A Philadelphia man voiced his innocence Wednesday to a Montour County judge, but found no luck when he was sentenced to a state correctional facility for 10 to 20 years for his role in a jewelry store robbery last year.
"This is unbelievable," Eric J. Smith, 38, told Montour County President Judge Scott W. Naus before being sentenced. "I'm innocent."
Smith was convicted of robbery, criminal conspiracy and theft charges by a jury in June for the July 14, 2008 robbery at Ryan's Jewelers on Mill Street in Danville.
Two employees and a customer in the store testified they feared for their lives after being blinded by pepper spray, hit with a stun gun and tied up by Smith.
"I had no knowledge (of the crime)," Smith told Naus, "I didn't know this was going to happen. I'm asking you to overturn the wrongful verdict."
Smith told the judge he believed the testimony and evidence were tampered with and that the jurors had a fixed opinon before trial.
"I should not have been found guilty," he said. "Nothing puts me doing the crime."
District Attorney Robert Buehner Jr said Smith has an extensive criminal history, reaching back 18 years ago.
"He's a thief, a drug dealer, a car stealer and now a jewelry store robber," Buehner told Naus.
He asked the judge to sentence Smith above the aggravated range, for reasons including: multiple victims involved; the criminal sophistication of the crime, noting Smith acted at closing time when the safe and vault were both open; the amount of jewelry taken, adding up to $163,000; and the danger he caused to everyone involved, because officers were on scene with guns drawn.
"He should receive a just penalty for what he did to the community, the victims and the business," Buehner said.
Naus said it appeared Smith came from the big city to the small country town and attempted to pull off the heist with practice and planning. He mentioned the wigs and tools found on site that were used in the incident. The multiple victims, terror inflicted, tieing up of those involved and the danger they were placed in was his reasoning for sentencing Smith to an above-aggravated range term.
For the robbery charge -- which Naus included in the theft -- Smith was sentenced to a $500 fine, $1,123.56 in restitution and 5 to 10 years in a state correctional facility. He will receive credit for 358 days already served.
He received 5 to 10 consecutive years for the criminal conspiracy charge.
Smith's girlfriend, Melanie McDuffie, 44, of Sicklerville, was charged March 28 with two counts of robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery and theft. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 14 in front of District Judge Marvin Shrawder.
News
Twenty years in prison for jewelry thief
- News
-
-
'To Do': Montandon Community Days
MONTANDON - Montandon Community Days will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 26 along Railroad Street.
-
California’s Coronado named nation’s best beach
CORONADO, Calif. (AP) — Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.
That’s one of the reasons why Coronado — flanked by the iconic hotel featured in Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 film “Some Like It Hot” — has been named the No. 1 beach in the United States in the 2012 survey by “Dr. Beach” professor Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University. -
Typical CEO made $9.6M last year, AP study finds
Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs.
-
Barnstorming cattle badger citizens for beer
BOXFORD, Mass. (AP) — Police say a roving group of cows crashed a small gathering in a Massachusetts town and bullied the guests for their beer.
-
'A Day in Towne' tradition draws crowds to Boalsburg
May 25--For the 148th year, Boalsburg will be the gathering place for regional families to remember all ranks of Armed Forces veterans.
-
Fired Pa. president gets more time to clear office
CALIFORNIA, Pa. (AP) — A judge has canceled a hearing to determine whether California University of Pennsylvania president Angelo Armenti can remove his personal property from his former office, because state officials have given him more time to do so.
- Weird crime of the week: Peddler in pickup scams bargain-hunting meat seeker
-
Police Log 05.25.12
A roundup of police news reported by departments across the Central Susquehanna Valley.
-
Four charged in ripoffs that hurt eight local senior citizens
Four Philadelphia men have been charged with operating an elaborate scam that targeted hundreds of elderly residents across Pennsylvania, including eight Valley seniors.
-
Jerry Sandusky charity to shut down and transfer programs
PHILADELPHIA — The charity for troubled youths started by Jerry Sandusky more than three decades ago — and through which the retired Penn State assistant football coach met the boys he is charged with sexually abusing — said today it is seeking court approval to shut down and transfer its programs to a Texas-based youth ministry that serves abused and neglected children.
-
Memorial Day Observances
Here is a listing of Memorial Day events this weekend in the Central Susquehanna Valley.
-
Man pleads guilty in 2006 Penn State student death
STATE COLLEGE — A man whose murder conviction was previously thrown out in the fatal beating of a Penn State student six years ago has pleaded guilty in the killing under a deal with prosecutors.
- More News Headlines
-
'To Do': Montandon Community Days
