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A Philadelphia native received two consecutive life sentences Wednesday for his role in a 2016 double murder along Poplar Street.
Joseph Sentore Coleman Jr., 38, was found guilty in early September for the home invasion and murder of Shane Wright, 27, and his mother, Kristine Kibler, 50, three years ago on Halloween night.
The two life sentences will run consecutively as a "symbol" of the crimes' seriousness, said Judge Marc F. Lovecchio. The miscellaneous firearm and robbery charges, amounting to a minimum of about seven years, will run concurrent.
Several members of the victims' family were present for the sentencing.
"You took a piece of our hearts and our future," Lisa Caputo, a sister of Kibler's and aunt of Wright's, said to Coleman. "You're a coward and a predator who doesn't take responsibility for their own actions."
"Maybe one day I can forgive you, but for now I just want to see you sit in prison and rot."
Coleman, who didn't directly kill Wright or Kibler, was charged under strict liability for the homicides through his role in the robbery.
"I really didn't do this to your family members... I know how y'all feel," said Coleman, referencing his relation to 16-year-old Ayliem Coleman, who was gunned down in July along Almond Street.
"I pray for your family members," he added.
Coleman's address to the court audience led to grumbles amongst those in attendance.
"Don't tell me how to feel, I have to look at my brother's kids every day," said one woman.
Much of the hearing involved addressing Defense Counsel Jeana A. Longo's, objection to Lovecchio sentencing her client.
The media has saturated Lycoming County with "prejudicial" articles and social media, she said, precluding any judge near the area from fairly sentencing Coleman.
Additionally, Lovecchio is the president judge of adult probation and one member of that department was related to a victim.
Lovecchio denied Longo's objection.
"It is not your client's right to throw all the paint he has at the wall just to see what sticks," he said.
Longo cited Coleman's upbringing as a reason for leniency.
"Coleman was raised by a drug-addicted mother," she said, thus he was effectively raised by the streets of Philadelphia where he started selling drugs by the time he was 13 years old and was serving a state prison sentence by 18 years old.
"He was shocked when he heard the gunshots" on Oct. 31, 2016, said Longo.
The commonwealth, headed by District Attorney Kenneth Osokow, asked for the maximum penalty to ensure the safety of the public.
"The scars and cuts will never heal," Lovecchio said to the audience moments before handing down Coleman's sentence.
"There's no words I can say to the victim's families that will replace your loss," said Lovecchio
Clearly Coleman is a smart and articulate man who could have used his abilities to make his community a better place, he said. Instead, Coleman repeatedly made the wrong decisions.
"Because you are serving life, your rehabilitation is your choice, how you make use of your time is your choice," said Lovecchio.