Stepbrothers get life in 81-year-old robbery victim’s death
BEAVER (AP) – Two Western Pennsylvania stepbrothers have been sentenced to life sentences in the death of an 81-year-old man home invasion victim three years ago.
The Beaver County Times reports 27-year-old Joseph Arlott and 25-year-old Beau Chermer, both of McKees Rocks, were sentenced Monday by a Beaver County judge.
A jury in August convicted Arlott of second-degree murder and other charges for breaking into the Hopewell Township home of Daniel Santia in April 2012. The man was robbed and beaten and died several weeks later. Prosecutors argued the death stemmed from Santia’s injuries, though defense attorneys disputed that.
Chermer pleaded guilty to lesser charges and allowed a judge to determine his guilt in the man’s death. The judge found Chermer guilty of second-degree murder also, which carries a mandatory life sentence.