2 S.R. men sentenced to prison time
Two men charged with robbing a Slippery Rock restaurant were sentenced to prison time in Butler County Court on Thursday.
Terrence J. Mack, 25, of Slippery Rock, was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison, while Robert L. Coburn, 33, also of Slippery Rock, was sentenced to one year minus one day to two years minus two days in the Butler County Prison by county Judge William Shaffer.
Mack and Coburn had previously entered guilty pleas — Mack to felony robbery and Coburn to felony conspiracy to commit robbery, before Shaffer.
Both were also ordered to pay $371 together in restitution to the Subway restaurant in Slippery Rock, after pleading guilty to robbing the store at 432 S. Main St., Slippery Rock, on May 18, 2016.
Mack also was sentenced to three to six months concurrent after pleading guilty to felony default in required appearance.
His attorney, Public Defender Joseph Smith, said his client has a substantial amount of credit, is a veteran and had been considered for veterans court and was turned over to the VA, but “that didn't work out.”
Coburn's attorney, Dennis McCurdy, said his client has “worked diligently on his recovery and addiction” after several months in inpatient treatment, and currently resides in a halfway house.
McCurdy asked that Coburn be considered for work release as “he has proved himself to be a very good worker.”
“He is prepared today to accept his sentence,” he said.
Coburn said his arrest and subsequent recovery saved his life.
“It was a time of desperation,” he said. “I'm not the person I was then. I have done everything I can to better my life.”
He said he is active in Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as his church group, is the president of his halfway house, and is even serving as a sponsor for other recovering addicts.
Shaffer also allowed Coburn work release if deemed appropriate by the jail, and credited him with seven days time served in jail prior, as well as several months in inpatient recovery.
He was also ordered to undergo 60 months of county probation following his release from jail.
The pair were charged after borough police said a man wearing a black hooded coat and a gray ski mask entered the store around 6 p.m. demanded the store's money box after threatening two employees with a hammer, and fled in a vehicle.Employees identified Mack as the suspect by his voice, as he was a former employee. According to the affidavit of probable cause one employee also witnessed Mack removing his mask as he ran off, and positively identified him.The vehicle was pulled over by police on New Castle Street and the driver was identified as Coburn, while Mack was in the passenger seat wearing a black hooded jacket.Mack was also found in possession of cash totaling $297, as well as a yellow-and-black framing hammer, a gray ski mask and a black steel money box on the passenger-side floor board, police said.The document states that Coburn told police that he picked up Mack, who asked him to drive to the rear of the shop, and Mack got out before returning a short time later and “yelling to him to 'Drive!'”The affidavit states Coburn admitted he did not have a driver's license and is taking multiple prescription medications, and he was arrested and charged.The misdemeanor default appearance against Mack comes after an incident on Jan. 2. He was initially charged with felony escape, which was dismissed as part of the plea, after Butler County detectives said Mack escaped from the VA Butler Healthcare facility, where he had been taken for unspecified treatment, after leaving the facility without the court's permission or knowledge. He had been placed there for treatment Nov. 7.
