Jury Convicts Hempstead Man in Gas Station Robbery
West Hempstead man was also involved in Baldwin robbery in November 2010.
A jury convicted a Hempstead man Tuesday of top-count robbery charges after he and two other men, including one from West Hempstead, robbed a Baldwin gas station and stole the car keys of a gas station customer in November 2010.
The three men - Shawn Peterson, 44, of Hempstead, Dion Mitchell, 43, of West Hempstead, and Isiah Boykin, 42, of Uniondale - were arrested shortly after the incident on foot because they were unable to steal the customer’s car.
It took a jury about three hours to convict Peterson of two counts of Robbery in the Third Degree, according to the Nassau County District Attorney's office. He faces a maximum of seven to 14 years in prison at his March 20 sentencing.
District Attorney Kathleen Rice said that shortly after midnight on November 11, 2010, Peterson, Mitchell and Boykin, threatened the attendant at the Valero gas station on Grand Avenue in Baldwin with an unseen gun. The three men then stole approximately $1,100 and several packs of cigarettes from the gas station, and the car keys of a customer inside the station, she added.
Peterson, Mitchell, and Boykin fled the scene on foot after they were unable to open the rear doors of the customer’s Honda Accord. They were arrested by Nassau County police officers on foot a few blocks from the gas station.
The jury rejected the defense’s claims that Peterson was mistakenly identified as one of the robbers. Mitchell previously pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree and received time-served after spending 11 months in jail. Boykin previously pleaded guilty to Robbery in the Third Degree and is awaiting sentencing.
“The evidence against Mr. Peterson was overwhelming and the jury was able to see through the defendant’s lies,” Rice said. “Now he is looking at a lengthy prison term, all over a few dollars and a couple of packs of cigarettes.”
Assistant District Attorney Christina Singh of the County Court Trial Bureau is prosecuting the case for the DA’s Office. Peterson is represented by Jeffrey Groder, Esq.
