Crystal
06-08-2007, 03:31 PM
Robber vocal at Troy sentencing
By BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer
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Last updated: 12:22 p.m., Friday, June 8, 2007
TROY - One of the men involved in the robbery of the Troy Pork Store in November renounced his American citizenship and called the judge and George Bush the real criminals at his sentencing this morning.
Levar Murray, 28, of Albany, came to be sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in April to three counts of second-degree robbery.
At 8:40 a.m. Nov. 29, Murray and John York, 36, of Troy, rushed into the store at 158 Fourth St. Murray, brandished a loaded handgun and grabbed the clerk, holding her behind the counter. York then reached over the counter and punched the clerk in the face, knocking her to the ground, police said at the time. The two grabbed cash from the register and personal items from the victims, ran out and were later arrested at a house just down the street.
"I took this plea because I knew as a black man I was not going to get a fair trial," Murray told County Court Judge Patrick McGrath before he was sentenced.
Murray tried to withdraw his plea, but was denied.
"I'm not apologizing for nothing," Murray said raising his voice to McGrath. ``I want to renounce my American citizenship. You (McGrath) and President Bush are the real criminals. I want to go on the record praising al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden."
McGrath quietly waited for Murray to finish his statements.
"Well, Mr. Murray, we know who the real criminal here is and he is being sentenced to 10 years in prison," McGrath said.
Murray will also serve five years' post-release supervision.
York received the same sentence before McGrath in April after pleading guilty to the same charges.
By BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer
Click byline for more stories by writer.
Last updated: 12:22 p.m., Friday, June 8, 2007
TROY - One of the men involved in the robbery of the Troy Pork Store in November renounced his American citizenship and called the judge and George Bush the real criminals at his sentencing this morning.
Levar Murray, 28, of Albany, came to be sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in April to three counts of second-degree robbery.
At 8:40 a.m. Nov. 29, Murray and John York, 36, of Troy, rushed into the store at 158 Fourth St. Murray, brandished a loaded handgun and grabbed the clerk, holding her behind the counter. York then reached over the counter and punched the clerk in the face, knocking her to the ground, police said at the time. The two grabbed cash from the register and personal items from the victims, ran out and were later arrested at a house just down the street.
"I took this plea because I knew as a black man I was not going to get a fair trial," Murray told County Court Judge Patrick McGrath before he was sentenced.
Murray tried to withdraw his plea, but was denied.
"I'm not apologizing for nothing," Murray said raising his voice to McGrath. ``I want to renounce my American citizenship. You (McGrath) and President Bush are the real criminals. I want to go on the record praising al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden."
McGrath quietly waited for Murray to finish his statements.
"Well, Mr. Murray, we know who the real criminal here is and he is being sentenced to 10 years in prison," McGrath said.
Murray will also serve five years' post-release supervision.
York received the same sentence before McGrath in April after pleading guilty to the same charges.