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Green gets 12 years for March restaurant robbery, apologizes to victims
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge, trying to determine if a recommended 12-year prison sentence for a 19-year-old man accused in a March robbery was fair, contrasted his 20s with those the defendant will face.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum said he was concerned the recommended term for Michael Green was too lenient, but he listed things he was able to do after he turned 20 that Green will not get a chance to do in prison.
The judge said he went to college, got married, had children, went to law school and became a lawyer and enjoyed his family and friends. Green will not get a chance to do any of those things for a long time, Judge Krichbaum said.
“You’re going to have your youth taken away from you,” Judge Krichbaum said.
Green pleaded guilty in June to five counts of aggravated robbery for the March 17 armed robbery of the Main Moon restaurant on Belmont Avenue. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of nine years on the robbery counts plus three years for a firearm specification.
Judge Krichbaum said he was not sure if the sentence was long enough because he wanted to make sure each victim of the robbery received justice. Two of the five victims who were in the restaurant that day were present in court but chose not to speak.
Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Brevetta, who was not the prosecutor who brokered the agreement, told Judge Krichbaum that Green’s age and his troubled upbringing were reasons his office recommended the 12-year sentence.
Green’s attorney, J.P. Laczko, said his client had been in and out of foster homes since he was 14 and his father has been in prison and not able to help raise him.
“He’s been passed around,” Laczko said.
Laczko asked Judge Krichbaum to follow the agreement. He said his client has accepted responsibility by pleading guilty.
Green turned around and apologized to the two victims who were in the courtroom. When Judge Krichbaum asked Green why he did it, Green said he had no answer.
“I don’t know,” Green said. “At the time, I wasn’t thinking.”
Judge Krichbaum said although he was worried the sentence may be too lenient, the factor that tipped the scales in sticking to the sentencing agreement was the fact that because it is an agreed-upon sentence, it cannot be appealed, which means there was no chance of Green being released early.
“That’s worthwhile,” Judge Krichbaum said.