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Defendant in foiled armed robbery gets 4 years in jail
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Posted on Jun 21 2012
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
One of two men charged with seven violations, including attempted first degree murder, in connection with a foiled robbery on two Chinese nationals entered a guilty plea yesterday and was sentenced to four years in prison with no possibility of parole.
Alfred A. Demapan pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. In exchange for his guilty plea, the Office of the Attorney General agreed to dismiss the remaining charges.
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman reluctantly accepted Demapan’s guilty plea and the plea agreement.
Wiseman considered the defendant’s lack of criminal history, among other factors, as he also noted that four years in prison without parole is like imposing a 12-year-jail term.
The judge sentenced the 20-year-old Demapan to 10 years in prison, all suspended except four years.
Demapan was given credit for the time he already served in jail.
After completing the jail sentence, the defendant will be placed on five years of probation. He was ordered to pay a $400 fine, $500 in probation fee, and $25 in court costs.
Wiseman said Demapan is jointly liable to pay $5,379.72 in restitution with his co-defendant.
Wiseman required the defendant to write letters of apology to the victims, Hui Cai and Shu Hua Zhou, and complete 200 hours of community work service.
While in jail, Demapan will be required to participate in anger management counseling through the Department of Corrections.
According to the plea agreement, on Dec. 29, 2009, Demapan along with a co-defendant requested a ride from taxi driver Hu Cai and his girlfriend Shu Hua Zhou with the shared intent to rob them.
When the taxi stopped at their destination, Demapan attacked Cai with a hammer causing lacerations to the head, while the co-defendant attacked Zhou with a knife, attempting to take her money and property.
The defendants then exited the vehicle and fled.
