The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN, who admitted responsibility for a double gunpoint robbery, was sentenced to seven years in prison yesterday after accepting a plea agreement with Crown prosecutors.

Cordero Bethel, 25, appeared before Justice Vera Watkins for a status hearing concerning his pending trial on two counts of armed robbery stemming from an incident on February 17, 2013.

Bethel’s lawyer, Crystal Rolle, informed the judge that following discussions with Crown counsel Maria Zancolla and Abagail Farrington, her client had accepted a plea agreement.

Following this, the charges were reread to Bethel who pleaded guilty to robbing a man of his 2007 Honda Accord and an iPhone as well as robbing a woman of her Samsung Galaxy S4 device.

His alleged accomplice, 26-year-old Raven Cooper, pleaded not guilty to the same charges and an additional charge of receiving.

Justice Watkins asked Bethel if his change of plea was voluntarily done because he had, in fact, committed the crimes. Bethel said yes.

When asked if he had anything additional to say to the court, Bethel sought to absolve Cooper of any involvement in his actions.

Justice Watkins said that such evidence would be dealt with at a later stage.

The judge proceeded to sentence Bethel to seven years on each count to take effect from the date he was taken into custody, March 3, 2014. The sentences will run concurrently.

Upon his release from the Department of Correctional Services, Bethel will be placed on two years probation.

Cooper, meanwhile, returns to the Supreme Court on May 3 for another status hearing.

He is represented by attorney Calvin Seymour.