NORWICH – A pair of convicted felons were sentenced to state prison in Chenango County Court Friday and both were chastised by Judge W. Howard Sullivan for their lack of remorse.
Anthony J. Pierce and Daniel P. Sabines received sentences of six and nine years, respectively, for an attempted burglary that occurred in August of 2010. In October, both Pierce and Sabines were found guilty of second degree burglary – a class C felony – by a jury of their peers following their separate trials.
According to prosecutors, the pair unlawfully entered a 22 Beebe Ave. residence under the pretense of going door-to-door collecting signatures for a political petition. When confronted by the home’s owner, Sabines fled through a back door. Pierce, though not seen by the homeowner, is alleged to have exited from a second floor window.
While Judge Sullivan said he believed Pierce has the potential to become a productive member of the community, the judge admonished both he and Sabines for a lack of contrition and their refusal to offer any kind of apology to the victims in the case.
“But there’s nothing,” stated Sullivan. “You’re trying to deflect responsibility for what you did.”
Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride said Pierce and Sabines are well on their way to becoming career criminals and asked for the maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison for both. In response, Pierce’s attorney, Scott Clippinger, said he was “amazed that we’re here” for the purposes of sentencing, citing a lack of hard evidence in his client’s case.
In his own defense, Pierce said he felt he “wasn’t convicted by the evidence” but by the scenario detailed by the district attorney during his trial.
Sabines, who was discovered by the homeowner at the time of the attempted burglary, asked Judge Sullivan to disregard “anything said today,” and added that a maximum sentence of 15 years would not allow him an opportunity to become a productive member of society.
Sabines’ attorney, Alan Gordon, said his client maintains he did not enter the Beebe Street residence with the intent to steal, yet he was forced to accept the jury’s verdict. Gordon reminded Judge Sullivan that nothing of value was taken from the residence – or damaged – and nobody was hurt. He added that – due to Sabines’ long history of drug abuse – he believed his client has “suffered permanent damage.”
According to Judge Sullivan, however, Sabines’ previous record – in addition to his refusal to take responsibility for his actions – called for a lengthy prison sentence. Since 2005, Sabines has been charged with multiple crimes, including assault, burglary and larceny, among others.
“You’ve turned your life over to those pills and that leafy, green stuff you smoke,” added Sullivan. “Outside, you’re a tough guy ... it’s my way or no way. As with Mr. Pierce, I would have considered a lesser sentence if there was any kind of remorse, any kind of responsibility. What comes out of your mouth, maybe you believe it ... I don’t ... the jury didn’t.”