Coffee shop robber sentenced

Jermaine Charles Hoffman was sentenced Tuesday to up to 50 years in prison for several burglaries and the attempted armed robbery of a coffee shop in which Hoffman fired two rounds at the owner before fleeing empty handed.

a€œMr. Hoffmana€™s actions were indicative of someone with little concern for others. Regardless of his age, up-bringing, or other alleged necessities, a long prison sentence was warranted in this case, which Hoffman received,a€ said Carson City District Attorney Neil Rombardo.

Hoffman, 21, pleaded guilty in July to two counts of burglary, grand larceny of a firearm, attempted robbery with a deadly weapon and battery with a deadly weapon.

He was arrested in February after a traffic stop in which officers found a duffel bag containing masks, bolt cutters, homemade silencers and six of 19 handguns stolen in a Jan. 29 burglary of the True Value Hardware store on Highway 50 East.

During a search of Hoffmana€™s South Nevada Street home and another address on Fall Street, officers allegedly recovered four more of the stolen weapons.

After an investigation by the Sheriffa€™s Office, Hoffman admitted to committing burglaries at the True Value Hardware Store, Fritsch Elementary School, Carson Jewelry, Kragen Auto Store, and a vitamin store, all of which were located in Carson City.

Hoffman also admitted to attempting to rob Carson Coffee on Jan. 30.

At the sentencing Tuesday in Carson City District Court the defense argued that Hoffman should receive leniency because of his age, noting he committed his crimes out of necessity.

The defense also argued that once Hoffman was caught, he admitted to his crimes, and he should receive leniency.

The owner of Carson Coffee, who sustained a minor wound on his foot from a richocheting bullet, made a victim-impact statement calling Hoffman a a€œtakera€ from society and requested that the judge sentence him to the full extent of the law.

The state, represented by Rombardo, argued that the defendant was a danger to society.

Rombardo said that Hoffman conducted a three-week crime spree that terrorized the retail community of Carson City, and that Hoffmana€™s possession of six firearms with homemade silencers showed his intent to commit more violent crimes in the future.

Judge James Russell agreed, sentencing Hoffman to up to 50 years. He is eligible for parole after 10.