A Mahanoy City teenager was sentenced to 3½-10 years in state prison Monday afternoon for his role in a 2023 robbery in the borough.
Jahmier Amante, 17, appeared before Schuylkill County President Judge Jacqueline Russell in Courtroom 2 for sentencing after coming to an agreement on a plea bargain with the District Attorney’s Office.
Amante rejected an original offer to serve 6-15 years and countered with the shorter offer. He agreed to plead guilty to a single count of robbery. District Attorney Mike O’Pake said after the sentencing hearing that the victim of Amante’s actions was pleased with the plea deal.
According to the original affidavit filed by police in Mahanoy City, the incident in question happened back on Oct. 25, 2023 outside the Cocoa Hut in the borough. At about 2:22 a.m., the victim said he was waiting in his vehicle for a friend to get out of a party when he was approached by two individuals, one of them being Amante, who was just a few weeks shy of his 16th birthday at the time.
Amante and the other male, who has not been identified, asked the victim for a ride, to which he agreed. After they got in the vehicle and the victim started driving away, the one of the assailants pointed a pistol at the victim and told him to drive. The other held a knife to the victim’s neck, according to the report.
Both assailants then ordered the victim to get out of the car and demanded they give him his phone. The victim said Amante and the other suspect then drove off. The vehicle was later located in Mahanoy City using GPS installed on it.
Amante was charged with robbery and other offenses on Sept. 9, 2024, and has been at George Junior Republic, an all-boys institution in Grove City, Mercer County, since Oct. 8, 2024. He’ll be credited for his time there as part of his sentence. Amante will be eligible for parole in April 2028.
At Monday’s sentencing hearing, Amante asked several questions of the legal process before Russell handed down the sentence.
For starters, he was confused by the length of the sentence, namely the 10 years maximum time. Russell explained that Pennsylvania requires a minimum and maximum number for prison sentences.
“I thought I was just agreeing to the 3½ part,” he told the judge.
When Russell told him that after the minimum term of his sentence expired, he’d be eligible for parole.
Amante asked, “Does parole usually happen?” to which the judge said it’s up to the Dept. of Corrections and Parole Board.
When offered a chance to make a statement, Amante said to Russell directly, “That you for taking the time to speak to me.”
During the proceedings, Russell explained numerous parts of the process and ensured that Amante was clear on what he was agreeing to and that he’d spoken with his attorney, Public Defender Kent Watkins, before agreeing to the plea deal.
Russell replied, “You don’t have to thank me. I appreciate it.”
Amante continued to ask questions, including if and why a lesser sentence was considered. O’Pake replied that it wasn’t and said the nature of the crime and Amante’s past juvenile record were factors in sentencing.
“Three and a half is more than fair,” O’Pake said.
Russell urged Amante to “take advantage of the opportunities you will have (in prison). Hopefully, you will get your life straightened out.”
“I will, your honor,” Amante said.
O’Pake later explained that this case was directly filed to adult court due to the nature of the crimes. Amante did petition to have the case decertified to juvenile court but that was denied.
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