A Sheffield teen who fled to Florida after brutally attacking an elderly woman in her home before taking her cash and car keys received a lengthy stay in state prison on Friday.
Jeremy C. Hoden, formerly of 5 Tan St., Sheffield, was handed an aggregate sentence of 12 to 24 years in state prison for charges stemming from the Aug. 10, 2007 assault on Irene Rice, 77, and the burglarizing of her home and another charge of burglary at the home of the victim's son
Prior to Hoden's sentencing, his counsel, Chief Public Defender John Parroccini said the defendant regretted his actions and pointed out his young age to the court. At the time of the incident, Hoden was 17 years old.
District Attorney Ross McKeirnan, representing the Commonwealth, presented the court with photographs of the victim's injuries.
He said Hoden beat the victim while she was sleeping.
"Mr. Hoden left her to die, there's no question about that," McKeirnan told the court. "This is a totally senseless act."
Hoden is currently serving a three-year state sentence in Florida for fleeing and eluding with disregard for safety of others, assault on an officer and trespassing.
"He was on a spree," McKeirnan noted.
Although Hoden was a minor at the time of the crime, he was treated as an adult in the legal system. The district attorney was not convinced that Hoden's young age should allow him some leniency.
"His age is not a mitigating factor," he said.
"Mr. Hoden needs to be segregated from society," McKeirnan continued. "We need to quarantine this individual before he preys" on other people.
Requesting a consecutive sentence for the defendant, McKeirnan said, "Let Mr. Hoden grow old or a lot older while he sits in prison."
While speaking on his own behalf, Hoden simply expressed an apology to the victim and the family.
Hoden was sentenced to 36 to 72 months in a state correctional institution consecutive to his term in Florida for burglary. For the charge of robbery, the deadly weapon enhancement was used and he was sentenced to 96 to 192 months in state prison and $17,197.45 in restitution. He was sentenced to 12 to 24 months in state prison for theft by unlawful taking.
In a separate case involving the burglary of the home of the victim's son, Hoden was sentenced to one to 12 months in prison and restitution in the amount of $264.95 for criminal trespass.
Hoden was also remanded to pay the cost of prosecution, cost of extradition, $250 for Act 185 and a $75 central booking fee.