A young father leaves four children behind as he goes to the Arizona Department of Corrections for his involvement in home invasion robbery and drive by shooting incidents just five days apart in Kingman.
“His children are going to suffer for his actions,” defense attorney Gerald Gavin said at the March 8 sentencing hearing for Corey Thomas, 26.
Thomas is one of three armed suspects who forced their way into a home on Comanche Drive on Oct. 2 last year. No one was hurt though occupants of the home were threatened at gunpoint as the robbers demanded money and cell phones and fled the residence with a safe.
The Kirkland, Ariz., man was convicted of armed robbery for the home invasion. He also pleaded guilty to drive by shooting for an Oct. 7 incident.
His mother, sister and wife expressed support and asked for leniency for Thomas whose four children are each under the age of five. Thomas apologized for his conduct and said he wants to do his time and return home to his family.
“This is the biggest eye opener of my life,” Thomas told Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle. The judge ordered a nine year prison term followed by four years probation.