Opinion
In view of the crime of the defendant and another in striking down a pedestrian and robbing him, the defendant's sentence of five to ten years for robbery with violence was not unduly severe. The sentencing judge characterized the attack as vicious and warned that the perpetrators of such crimes may expect "to be visited with a pretty heavy penalty."
Decided June 8, 1965
Application for review of sentence imposed by the Superior Court for Hartford County (No. 26125). Sentence confirmed.
Arnold M. Schwolsky, of Hartford, for the defendant.
John D. LaBelle, state's attorney, for the state.
This defendant, age twenty-one, pleaded not guilty to the crime of robbery with violence and after a trial to the court was found guilty. He was thereafter sentenced to state prison for a term of not less than five nor more than ten years. The statute involved herein, General Statutes § 53-14, provides for a maximum penalty of twenty-five years.
On March 20, 1964, at about 11 p.m., one Harold Hills, age fifty-one, was attacked and robbed by two youths as he walked on Asylum Street in the city of Hartford. He was struck by one or both and knocked down, and his wallet containing personal papers and about $35 was taken.
The remarks made by the state's attorney at the time of sentencing are pertinent to the ultimate disposition to be made by this division. He said, inter alia: "I don't know what the answer is to these cases, Your Honor. These wolf packs roam the streets and attack innocent citizens and I think society has the right to be protected against them. These are vicious crimes and we have seen in other states what happens when they go unchecked. . . ." The court then remarked, before passing sentence: "It was really a very vicious attack; . . . we ought to serve notice upon those who may be contemplating like crimes that they may be expected to be visited with a pretty heavy penalty."