Last Person Sentenced In Store, Bank Robberies

A judge has sentenced the last of three men accused of committing robberies at a convenience store and downtown bank last year.

Walter Hoelck, 27, of 846 Bank Street, was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison, suspended after 56 months, and three years of probation. Hoelck entered an Alford plea on June 9 to first-degree robbery in relation to the store incident and guilty to second-degree accessory to robbery in the bank robbery.

According to a report by Detective Richard E. Curcuro of the , three men robbed on Ocean Avenue at knifepoint on June 28, 2010. The men got away with $400 and $159.85 worth of cigarettes. Three days later, three men also robbed the on Masonic Street.

In the bank robbery, now 22-year-old Michael Drayton jumped over the counter and demanded money while Hoelck and then 25-year-old Darren Hall stood by. One of the bank employees recognized Drayton as the son of a customer of the bank, and Hall and Hoelck were identified by witnesses. Drayton was later arrested on Hempstead Street after tackling Police Chief Margaret Ackley and found to be carrying a bag containing $8,757.

Drayton pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery in November in relation to the bank robbery. He was to seven out of 12 years in prison with three years of probation, concurrent to a sentence of four years and seven months out of a 12-year prison sentence as well as three years of probation.

Hall pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and no contest to second-degree larceny in January in relation to the bank robbery, as well as an Alford plea to first-degree robbery and no contest to fifth-degree larceny in June in relation to the bank robbery. An Alford plea does not admit guilt but recognizes that the prosecution is likely to win a conviction at trial. Hall was to 12 years in prison, suspended after seven years, with three years of probation as well as a concurrent sentence of 10 years, suspended after six years, with three years of probation.