A repeat felon and one-time bank robber begged for mercy today in Butler County Court, claiming he’s now a reformed family man.

But Judge William Shaffer told 52-year-old Burnell Williams that his prior record had caught up with him. The judge said he had no choice but to sentence Williams within a standard range for his new conviction for stealing the car of a store manager who was attempting to stop him for retail theft.

Williams will serve 2 to 4 years in state prison followed by two years’ probation.

Williams of New Castle was one of three people attempting to conceal merchandise while in the Rite Aid drugstore on Route 19 in Cranberry Township on Jan. 29, 2013.

According to court records, the three fled the store separately. One left in the car all three had arrived in. Williams and 24-year-old Melinda L. Pounds of Ellwood City reportedly snatched car keys belonging to the store manager and took it.

Williams, who alleges he is innocent of stealing the car, had a jury trial in December before Shaffer and was found guilty of felony counts of conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property.

Court officials say Williams is a repeat felon with robbery-related convictions in Pittsburgh 1990 and 1982.

“I can’t change my past,” Williams told the judge. “I robbed banks and did a whole bunch of things.”

Williams then added that he’s changed in the past 15 years, becoming a family man. He said he has a 9-year-old son and his fiancee is pregnant.

“I’m really trying to do things right now,” he said. “I’m looking for a little leniency here. I’m trying to raise my kids and do the right thing.”

The judge said he is bound by state rules to using prior records to calculate sentences.

Williams’ defense attorney Joseph Smith said he will appeal the verdict.

Pounds in July pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to serve 9 to 24 months in prison.

No information was available about the third person.