West Seattle Crime Watch: Pharmacy robber sentenced

We are at the King County Courthouse downtown, where Judge Carol Schapira presided over sentencings this afternoon, including that of 24-year-old Tyler Ljubich, found guilty in August of robbing West Seattle’s Westside Pharmacy during its post-closure inventory a year ago (here’s our original story). The prosecutor recommended the high end of the “standard sentencing range,” 41 to 54 months in prison, pointing out that witnesses testified Ljubich had a gun, though none was found, and that he had previously served prison time for shooting at a parked car in 2007 (as detailed in our earlier coverage); the defense requested the low end, saying that Ljubich had strong family support in the community (his father and two aunts were in the courtroom – the defense lawyer told the judge his mother died a few months ago) and was conducting himself well in jail, including taking classes. Judge Schapira went with the defense’s recommendation and sentenced Ljubich (the photo at right is from his previous prison term) to “the low end” of the range – he also will get credit for the year he has been in jail since his arrest, which happened in an incident that made news when he ran from police and wound up on the Schmitz Park Elementary campus.

Silly Goose October 1, 2010 (11:00 pm)

I for one would like the law to be changed so that time spent while waiting sentencing does not get deducted from the time a judge officially sentences at the court date. This guy needs to spend more than 4.5 years behind bars. Put this guy on a chain gang cleaning up the freeways to earn his keep. Then make him work in a morge with victims that have been shot, then he can volunteer with children whom have lost their parents to crimes committed by idiots with guns, then send him to my house so I can knock him up side the head!!

waterworld October 1, 2010 (11:59 pm)

SG: Why do you want the time people spend in jail waiting to get sentenced not to count? I am having a hard time seeing what interest is served by that. The judge knows how long the person has been in custody when she imposes the sentence, so she can take that into account and increase the sentence if she thinks the total time should be longer (or decrease it if she thinks the total time should be less).

I believe the rule you are proposing would also be unconstitutional, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause, because it would unfairly discriminate against poor people who can’t post bail. A poor guy who can’t make bail would do the 41 months plus the 12 months he spent in jail waiting to be sentenced, while a person who could post bail would do just the 41 months. Why would that be a good thing?

Fellow Citizen October 2, 2010 (5:29 am)

…and your point is? I’m sorry but I don’t feel bad about “crooks” having to stay in jail longer. (poor baby, can’t post bail!) He’ll be going back to his “business as usual” as soon as he is released anyway! Proven more then once already!

Silly Goose October 2, 2010 (3:07 pm)

@water world, I don’t care if the criminal is poor or rich not my problem, if they are stupid enough to commit a crime with a gun then that person can sit their ass in jail and rot for as long as it takes to get to court. If you read his history this is his second offense with a gun that he has been arrested for. A judge only imposes what laws are in place and I might add they are so old and outdated and don’t justly fit todays type of crimes. As for you trying to quote the constituion to me the “Equal Rights Protection Clause” is the fourteenth amendment and it has nothing to do with the time spent incarcerated prior to a trial this amendment simply states that All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. So as you have read he got his trial and now the scum bag is on his way to jail where he belongs and unfortunatly 1 year was subtracted from his sentence for time served, which in layman terms means in 54 months he will be on the streets again and next time it could be you he is shooting at!!

Sorry, comment time is over.