Leonard "Pooder" Robinson stood in front of Judge Wolfgang Tuesday morning and rejected the plea deal presented by the DA's office.
At the start of his court appearance he was willing to enter a guilty plea to second degree murder. When Wolfgang read through the circumstances of the deal it got to a point where Robinson said he didn't understand.
Robinson - entering plea of guilty to 2nd degree murder but court postponed while his lawyer answers some of his ?'s @WKBW
— Desiree Wiley (@DesireeWiley) May 3, 2016
Robinson then left the courtroom with his attorney Mike D'Amico. When he returned he withdrew his plea.
Robinson has a change of mind - withdrew his plea of guilty @WKBW
— Desiree Wiley (@DesireeWiley) May 3, 2016
"His commitment today would have been 20 years to life concurrent with any other sentence that would be imposed to what he's lead guilty to," said D'Amico. "20 years to life means after 20 years he'd be eligible to see a parole board. Doesn't mean he'd get out"
Robinson is charged with second degree murder, second degree attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon for killing 42-year-old Antwaine Vance and injuring 24-year-old Dominique Jackson in November. The murder charges carry a sentence of 50 years to life in prison.
The robbery charges he's plead guilty to carry a sentence of 25 years to life.
Before Robinson withdrew his plea the DA's office made it clear the deal would be off the table moving forward.
They released the following statement after Robinson's court appearance:
“The defendant, like anyone accused of a crime, is entitled to a trial. The People are ready to go forward.”
Robinson has a hearing scheduled for May 16th.
