CLEARFIELD – A Penfield man pleaded guilty during sentencing court on Friday for his part in the robbery of a DuBois Burger King employee in the parking lot.
John Ronald Lentz, Jr., 54, was sentenced by Judge Paul Cherry to serve 16 months to five years in state prison for felony conspiracy/robbery and misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.
Last month, Richard William Smeal, 60, who was convicted of the robbery in June, was sentenced by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman to serve 41 months less three days to 12 years in state prison for two counts of robbery, misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, and simple assault.
According to testimony at the trial, the victim had just closed the restaurant when she walked to her car with the deposit in her purse. She was not able to get completely in her car before a masked man put “a gun in her face.” As she was being assaulted, she screamed which brought two different cars of people to help her.
One of the vehicles drove around, spotted the suspect’s vehicle, and followed it until it entered a hotel parking lot. The two women inside the vehicle called 911 and were advised not to approach the possible get away car. They waited until police were on the scene.
Several police cars searched the area with one of them getting close enough to get the car’s license plate number which led to Smeal.
Lentz was driving the getaway car. He testified during the trial that he had previously worked at Burger King and came up with a plan to rob the business. He admitted he dropped Smeal off, waited to pick him up later, and drove away as they eluded police that night. He said the victim was not involved, which contradicted Smeal’s version of events that indicated she was in on the robbery.
Prior to sentencing, Lentz’s attorney, Jendi Schwab, asked Cherry to consider giving Lentz a three year maximum instead of the recommended five years.
At the trial, he was a critical component for getting a conviction, she said.
“He went above and beyond to try to rectify what he did,” she said adding that Smeal was not taking any responsibility for his actions.
It was noted that Lentz’s co-operation was taken into consideration when the plea agreement was offered to him.
For more information on the Smeal sentencing, click here.
