MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Baldwin man was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison for his role in an Oct. 2015 burglary in Rockville Centre burglary.
John Robinson, 23, a persistent violent felony offender, was sentenced yesterday by Acting Supreme Court Justice Jerald Carter to 17 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of one count of Burglary in the 2nd Degree (a C violent felony) on Dec. 13. The trial lasted six days and the jury deliberated for approximately three days.
“This persistent offender broke into and ransacked a home in broad daylight and then ran from the police and a brave neighbor when they tried to stop him,” said DA Singas. “Thanks to good detective work and our prosecutors John Robinson will now spend a lengthy time in prison.”
DA Singas said that on Oct. 16, 2015 at approximately 11:30 am, Robinson was dropped off by two co-defendants in front of a residence on Sherman Avenue in Rockville Centre. Shortly afterwards the defendant pushed an air-conditioning unit in and entered a house through a basement window. Robinson then proceeded to ransack the house looking for valuables. The defendant was caught on video surveillance leaving the house at approximately 12:30 pm carrying several of the homeowner’s bags stuffed with stolen items.
Robinson was spotted by the homeowner’s next door neighbor who had come home for lunch and tried to chase the defendant down Sherman Avenue. Robinson was also chased by a Rockville Centre police officer who had arrived on the scene earlier to investigate a call for a suspicious vehicle occupied by the two co-defendants. The defendant dropped the proceeds of the burglary and jumped into a getaway car and escaped.
Robinson was placed under arrest the next day by members of the Nassau County Police Department First Squad.
Robinson’s co-defendants, Jashira Rodriguez and Fabrice Lafleur, pleaded guilty to Attempted Burglary in the 2nd Degree.
Assistant District Attorneys Alexandra Brodman and Jessica Cepriano, Deputy Chief of DA Singas’ County Court Trial Bureau, prosecuted the case. Robinson is represented by James Polk, Esq.