Sentencing Postponed in Bank Robbery Case

20-year-old Gordon Lewis appeared for sentencing in Circuit Court today for attempting to rob the Miner’s State Bank in South Range.

18-year-old Paden Rothenberger of Atlantic Mine was sentenced to one year in jail for his part in the crime among other charges last month.

Lewis had agreed to plea no contest in exchange for the dismissal of the more serious charges…including Safebreaking…which carries a possible life sentence.

However…Lewis’s attorney David Gemignani requested that his client be sentenced under Michigan’s Holms Youthful Trainee Act.

Referred to as HYTA…the law allows certain young offenders to have their criminal conviction stricken from their record.

But only in cases where the defendant pleads guilty.

Since Lewis pleaded no contest…the judge denied the request.

Sentencing was postponed to allow the attorneys to resolve the issue.