AUBURN - An 18-year-old Auburn man was sentenced to five years in state prison in Cayuga County Court Thursday for his role in a daytime armed robbery last March.

Before Judge Peter Corning pronounced Jeffrey Sanders' sentence for the felony of second-degree robbery, he said Sanders, of 84 Wall St., Apt. 1, and his three co-defendants decided it was easier to rob someone of marijuana on March 2 than to buy it. No marijuana was stolen in the robbery at 10 Sheridan St., but other personal items were taken from the victims.

Sanders' mother, Marnie Duncan, of Auburn, sat tensely, holding her hands over her mouth before the sentencing. She began to sob as the sentence was given.

Duncan felt her son's sentence was unfair in comparison to the two- to six-year sentence Teri Whyte received earlier this year for killing her infant son in December 2004 by holding her hand over his nose and mouth because he was crying.

“It wasn't fair,” she said. “He did get railroaded.”

Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Sanders was the second-most responsible person in the robbery because he had a gun, or a facsimile gun. Marche Johnson, 19, of 12 Holley St., Auburn, received the highest sentence of 10 years for pistol-whipping a victim in the head. Police never recovered an actual weapon, only a toy gun that they believe was used in the robbery.

Adrian Hall, 21, of B27 Brogan Manor, Auburn, was sentenced 1 1/3 to four years in prison for his presence during the robbery. Kareem Davis, 20, of 10 McMaster St., Auburn, was sentenced to five years probation for driving his three co-defendants to 10 Sheridan St.

Duncan wondered why the Sheridan Street residents hadn't been arrested for marijuana possession.

Auburn city police said the motive of the robbery was to steal marijuana, but police did not recover any marijuana linked to Sheridan Street that could prove possession charges.

Sanders' attorney, Lisa Blair, was not sure her client understood the gravity of his actions during the robbery.

“As I stand before you today, I stand before you as a boy, not a man,” Sanders told Corning before his sentencing. He said he wanted to join the military and that his family would suffer for five years along with him while he was incarcerated.

Also in court:

- Luis Bonnet, a former Auburn Correctional Facility inmate, refused to voluntarily be extradited to face a violation of probation warrant out of Sommerville, Mass. He was on probation for charges of a 1993 attempted murder, assault to rape and kidnapping conviction. He will be held in Cayuga County Jail for 60 to 90 days pending Massachusetts authorities filing an extradition request and a hearing being held on the request.

Bonnet was arrested on the warrant upon his release from ACF this week on a 2004 conviction in New York County of second-degree assault. A Spanish translator, Sara Caceres, aided Bonnet during his appearance.

- David Hall, 22, of 3922 Mathers Road, Moravia, entered a not guilty plea to the three felony charges and two misdemeanor charges related to the accusation he had sexual relations with a 14-year-old May 13 within city limits.

- Kevin Lasher, 47, of 2601 Earl St., Weedsport, had his sex offender level set at level 1, the lowest level. Lasher was convicted of the felony charge of third-degree rape and a misdemeanor charge of first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child.

Lasher supplied alcohol to a 16-year-old and a 15-year-old and then had sex with the 16-year-old Feb. 21.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net