The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

February 5, 2010

UPDATE: Robber beaten by victims facing long prison term

By Monica Pryts

SHARON —

Jauton Jamal Lee was sentenced to up to 11 years in jail for trying to rob a Sharon family who beat him up after he threatened them with a gun.

Lee, 30, Warren, Ohio, apologized Friday to the family for his “gross mishaps.” He hopes they accept his apology, he said, turning to look at some of the family members who attended the sentencing.

Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas R. Dobson sentenced Lee to 5 1/2 to 11 years in state prison with credit given for 709 days served. He was also ordered to pay court costs and $125 restitution.

Lee pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to robbery and illegal possession of a firearm for the Feb. 27, 2008, crime against Byron Newberry, Newberry’s girlfriend Donna Ford and their teenage son.

“You’re lucky that no one was killed,” Dobson told Lee.

The family, who declined to speak in court Friday, testified at a March 2008 preliminary hearing, saying Lee knocked on the door of their Ravine Place home, pushed his way in and pulled a gun.

Lee looked high, demanded money and marijuana and threatened to shoot Newberry, Newberry said. Ms. Ford and their son came downstairs because of the commotion and Lee pointed the gun at them.

The family piled on top of Lee, with the men trying to restrain his hand and Ms. Ford hitting him in the head with a knife sharpener, Newberry said.

Lee’s gun went off in the struggle and the bullet hit a wall, possibly giving Ms. Ford a powder burn on her hand, Sharon police said. Lee was treated for facial and head injuries.

Newberry said he’d never seen Lee before and that neither he nor anyone in his family sells or uses marijuana.

Lee’s attorney, Stanley Booker of Pittsburgh, told Dobson he’s represented Lee for over a year and has seen a remarkable change in him.

“Mr. Lee has clearly grown as a person,” he said.

Lee thanked his family for their support and said he’s been studying “human excellence,” learning how to understand himself and others.

He’s taught fellow inmates to develop their inner faculties and understand their subconscious, endowing themselves with more knowledge.

His father told him he must not value his life because he’s been in prison more than once, referring to a drug possession conviction.

Lee shared some of what he’s been writing in jail, saying he’s alive, well, free and found himself. He has a lot to give but more to learn and has been in contact with a “higher plane of causes.”

“I’m done wasting time,” he said.

He wants to give back to people because many are enslaved in their own “prisons.”

“They’re in prison and I’m so free,” Lee said.

Lee’s family members asked Dobson for leniency in his sentencing.

His mother Regina Lee said their family is well-educated and her son was raised in the upper-middle class, but he “slipped a little bit.”

Lee’s father Michael Lee said he takes responsibility for some of his son’s actions, but his child is making himself better and can be a productive member of society.

“We stand behind him, good and bad,” Michael Lee said, telling his son to “show some responsibility and live like a man.”

Lee’s older sister Samantha Lee spoke briefly, crying, telling Dobson her brother needs to rebuild his life and his kids miss him.

Lee’s uncle Renza Hughley Jr. said Lee is a very intelligent young man and capable of doing what he sets his mind to, but his mind wasn’t in the right place. He has a potential to get his life together, given the opportunity, Hughley said.

Dobson told Lee the victims in this crime have emotional scars. “Sometimes those are the toughest to heal,” he said.

Lee is hard-headed and made some poor choices that are coming back to hurt him, Dobson, adding he can see Lee comes from a good family that loves him.

That makes a judge’s decision more difficult and while Lee has made some changes since the robbery, Dobson said he still has to be skeptical. Lee could be fine no matter what the sentence because of what he’s learned, Dobson said.

“I hope for you it’s true,” he told Lee.

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