Several people were sentenced in Lycoming County Court Wednesday for crimes including robbery, indecent assault, attacking a police officer and escape from the county's Pre-Release Center.
Saying county prison isn't a good enough deterrent for him, Lycoming County Judge Marc F. Lovecchio sentenced Tyrone Anthony Riley, 21, of 1041 Memorial Ave., to 22 months to five years in state prison on robbery charges related to a Dec. 10, 2011, incident.
Riley, who has a previous criminal record including receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and obliterating a serial number off a firearm, was on probation when he and Cedric Williams held another man against his will and threatened to rob him of $400.
The pair jumped in a vehicle driven by Dhakwan M. Kelly and drove to an automated teller machine on West Fourth Street where Riley threatened to pull a gun on Kelly.
Riley's attorney, Lori A. Rexroth, told Lovecchio the incident was "not nearly as volatile a situation as painted" and that a gun never was made visible.
Based on his previous history and troubled behavior in county prison, Lovecchio ordered him to a state facility.
"It's clearly a decreasing pattern of behavior with increasing sanctions that don't work," Lovecchio said. "You're not out very long and it happens again. Considering all the factors, I don't think I have much of a choice."
In another case Wednesday, Lovecchio handed down a 30 day to 11 1/2 month prison sentence to Michael A. Campbell, 25, of 1101 W. Front St., South Williamsport, on an indecent assault charge.
Police said Campbell fondled a 17-year-old girl on Aug. 6, 2011.
Assistant District Attorney Kenneth A. Osokow argued that Campbell should receive jail time for the crime, while Campbell's attorney, Ronald C. Travis, said incarcaration would cost his client his job and asked Lovecchio to order probation.
Campbell said he is an honorably discharged disabled Navy veteran.
"I understand I've made quite an error on my part," he said.
Lovecchio said Campbell should be held responsible for his actions. Referring to his sentence, Lovecchio said, "There should at least be a wake-up call. There should be some accountability. This is an indecent assault on a 17-year-old girl who is going to be impacted by it."
Campbell's sentence includes provisions for work and educational release.
Lovecchio also sentenced James A. Sykora, 54, of Pine City, N.Y., for aggravated assault on state troopers.
Sykora was visiting his wife at an assisted living facility on Sept. 17, 2011, when troopers arrived to arrest Kenneth Mutzabaugh, who was with Sykora in the patient's room. Mutzabaugh was wanted on an out-of-county warrant.
As troopers moved in to take Mutzabaugh into custody, Sykora threatened to pull out a knife and attack the troopers. A stun gun was deployed to take down Sykora as he struggled with troopers, but the weapon had no affect. It took five troopers to take the man into custody. One trooper suffered a hand injury in the altercation.
"He was in a rage and didn't really remember it," said Sykora's attorney, Kyle W. Rude. "He pleaded no contest and took responsibility for it."
Sykora was sentenced to three months in the Lycoming County Prison with one year of intermediate punishment and five years of probation. Lovecchio said he may be furloughed to Chemung County, N.Y., where he works after reporting June 25 for his sentence.
"No matter what the situation, you can't fight with the cops," Lovecchio said.
In another case, Randall Leroy Herb, 32, an inmate at the county Pre-Release Center, was sentenced to one to three years in state prison with 24 months' probation for attempting to escape the facility last October.
Herb walked out of an alarmed door and set off a 90-minute hunt for the man, who later was found in the 2000 block of Lincoln Drive.
Lovecchio said Herb, who has a history of mental illness and takes numerous prescriptions to control his mood, may get more assistance for his illness in a state facility.
