By GEORGE DIEPENBROCK, The Lawrence Journal-World
A Douglas County judge Tuesday morning sentenced a Kansas City, Kan., man to serve three years on probation for his conviction as part of a 2008 Lawrence robbery.
John T. Words had pleaded no contest in January to robbery and aggravated assault as prosecutors accused him of aiding and abetting several co-defendants in the case.
Douglas County prosecutors in 2011 charged Words and others with several crimes, including aggravated robbery, in connection with the Dec. 3, 2008, armed robbery of an alleged drug dealer in the 3400 block of Augusta Drive. Prosecutors in January had said Words might fall under a “border box” where his attorney could argue for probation if he had no significant criminal history
Cheryl Wright, a district attorney’s office spokeswoman, said District Judge Kay Huff ordered Words to undergo a substance-abuse evaluation and follow the evaluator’s recommendations. If he’s found to violate terms of his probation, Words faces a four-year prison sentence.
A co-defendant, Christopher J. Jackson, 23, also of Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty in February to robbery and aggravated assault. His sentencing is scheduled for July 30.
