ITHACA, N.Y. — The man who stole a 71-year-old woman’s purse on Easter was sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years in prison Wednesday in Tompkins County Court.
Darryl Bradshaw, 23, of Ithaca, was sentenced for two charges Wednesday: third-degree robbery related to the theft of the purse and third-degree attempted burglary for a separate case when Bradshaw attempted to break into a pawn shop.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten asked Judge John Rowley to sentence Bradshaw to three to six years in prison for the robbery charge, and two to four for the attempted burglary charge, but Rowley met in the middle sentencing Bradshaw to two-and-a-half to five years in prison. An order of protection was also issued for both victims and Bradshaw was ordered to pay back about $900 in restitution between the two cases.
At about 7:45 a.m. April 1, 2018, a 71-year-old woman was walking on the 600 block of West Seneca Street in Ithaca on her way to church when Bradshaw approached her from behind and tried to wrangle her purse from her shoulder as he ran past, police said. When Bradshaw was unable to grab the person, he pushed the woman to the ground, a struggle ensued and he was eventually able to grab the purse and run away.
The purse contained a few items which totaled over $600, but one item was particularly special: rosary beads she has had since she was a child, Van Houten said at the sentencing. Police were able to recover the stolen rosary beads after a search of his apartment and Van Houten said she will finally be able to get them back now.
Between the attempted burglary of a pawn shop and robbing the woman on Easter, Van Houten said Bradshaw was a “menace to the community” during that time. Since the robbery, Van Houten said the woman who was robbed lost a sense of security she had in her neighborhood.
Attorney Kevin Kelly who represented Bradshaw said Bradshaw is remorseful for the crimes. At the sentencing, Bradshaw said, “I did what I did and now I have to deal with the consequences. … I deserve whatever time you give me.”
Judge Rowley said he hopes Bradshaw understands the impact of his crimes and what it’s like to be randomly selected for a crime. He asked Bradshaw to think about, “Who will you be when you’re back in our community?”
In addition to the sentence of two-and-a-half to five years in prison for third-degree robbery, he sentenced Bradshaw to two to four years for attempted burglary. He also recommended the shock incarceration program, a rehabilitation program.