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Washington man sentenced in robbery case

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A Washington man who was found guilty in October of robbing Isaly’s convenience store, 2400 Jefferson Ave., Washington, in January 2013 was sentenced Tuesday to 8 ½ to 17 years in prison.

Shayne Coffield, 24, stared straight ahead as Washington County Judge John F. DiSalle announced the sentence. DiSalle also resentenced Coffield for a 2009 string of burglaries, bringing his total prison sentence to 20 to 40 years, and ordered he pay close to $40,000 in restitution to his victims.

Coffield was just released from a state prison when he was accused in a string of robberies in the city, including the Isaly’s robbery, a robbery at the Uni-Mart on East Maiden Street and the robbery of a Four Star delivery driver.

Coffield was accused of robbing Isaly’s along with his half brother, Michael Stienstraw, 27, of Claysville, as the store clerks were preparing to close. The clerks testified in court that one man jumped over the counter and demanded money. Both clerks said he had a steak knife in his hand. The other man, who was carrying a bat, did not cross the counter and did not speak. The man with the knife eventually found the lottery cash drawer, grabbed the money and ran. The charges against Stienstraw were dismissed after the prosecution failed to bring him to trial within a year.

On March 27, 2013, Coffield, along with his co-defendant Christopher M. Pitzarella, 24, of Washington, were accused of robbing the Uni-Mart. Coffield also was accused of shooting a clerk in the leg. A Washington jury acquitted him in June of robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault and criminal conspiracy. Pitzarella was charged with illegally lending or giving firearms and multiple counts of robbery.

On Tuesday, the district attorney’s office announced it was not pursuing the charges against Coffield in the Four Star delivery robbery. Coffield, Pitzarella and Steinstraw were accused of robbing a Four Star delivery driver with a gun March 9, 2013, after the driver finished making a delivery on East Maiden Street. Pitzarella pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 11 to 23 months in jail and 5 years of probation. The charges against Stienstraw were again dismissed after DiSalle found the district attorney’s office failed to bring the case to trial in a year, as required under state court Rule 600.

Coffield’s attorney, Amanda Como, attempted twice to have the Four Star charges against Coffield dropped, citing a Rule 600 violation, and again after DiSalle determined Deputy District Attorney Joseph Zupancic knowingly withheld evidence from her in the case. DiSalle dismissed both motions. Zupancic resigned from his position as a result.

Como said Tuesday she plans to file an appeal. She declined further comment.

Assistant District Attorney John Friedmann said he thought the judge’s sentence was fair.

“Judge DiSalle heard the testimony at trial and had the opportunity to review Coffield’s prior record,” he said. “(Coffield) is going to spend a good deal of time (in prison). While he’s away, he’ll have the chance to think about what he’s done in his past and hopefully become a productive member of society.”

Coffield will remain in the Washington County jail until he is transferred to a state prison.

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