Raping robbers sent
to prison for 25 years
PHILIPSBURG--The Judge did not show any mercy Tuesday to Andrew Wilson and Vincent Hanley who had ravaged St. Maarten by committing a large number of armed and violent robberies of private homes, stores, Chinese restaurants between August and November 2007. The masterminds of this spate of robberies received 25 years each.
Five suspects were sentenced Tuesday by the Court for their roles in these crimes, which were committed by groups with changing membership. Three other suspects will know their fate today, Wednesday.
The sentences meted out to Wilson (20) and Hanley (25) were equal to the punishment Prosecutor Jan Bart Develing laid down during the Court hearing on May 27.
Wilson, who had admitted to the incredible number of 23 crimes, and Hanley who had confessed to 20 crimes, were also found guilty of having raped two Chinese girls and an American tourist during two different robberies. One of the victims was raped by five intruders.
Threatening their victims with revolvers, shotguns and machetes, beating them and tying them up, the suspects had stolen a large number of items.
Judge Rob Goossens indicated in his ruling that, considering the nature and the seriousness of these crimes, he could not deviate from the Prosecutor’s demand.
The judge said that he had taken into account that Wilson had not been in contact with the law before, and that, according to a psychologist, he could not be held fully accountable for his acts due to his “below-average intelligence.”
Even though Hanley had “only” committed 20 crimes, the Judge gave him the same punishment as his partner in crime Wilson. This had to do with the fact that Hanley already had several entries on his criminal record and could be held fully accountable for his acts.
Three other suspects received much lower punishments than the two “masterminds” Wilson and Hanley. Rudolf Warno (26), who was found guilty of committing an armed robbery on September 12, 2007, received a prison sentence of 45 months. The Prosecutor had asked for five years.
Richard Smees (27) who was facing five years, two of which to be suspended, with two years’ probation, got away with 31 months, 12 of which were suspended, with three years’ probation.
Contrary to the Prosecutor, the Judge considered Smees only an accomplice in an armed robbery committed on October 23, 2007. The Court considered it proven that he had helped Wilson and Hanley in plotting their crimes while and functioning a look-out by providing them information via a cellular phone.
Franklin Lake was found guilty of robbing Chinese men outside a casino on September 12, 2007. The Prosecutor had asked for three years, one of which to be suspended, with three years’ probation for this crime. The judge sentenced to 33 months, 12 of which were suspended, on three years’ probation.
