AUBURN - A Dryden man was sentenced in Cayuga County Court Thursday to three to nine years in prison for stealing more than $56,000 in cash and property from C&M Transportation in Moravia.

The sentence for Ricky Predmore Jr., 21, of 76 W. Main St., Dryden, will run consecutively with his current two to six year prison term for a burglary committed in Tompkins County. He was also ordered to pay $54,000 in restitution.

Predmore pleaded guilty in June to one count of second-degree grand larceny, admitting that he and his uncle, David Wacht, broke into C&M's safe on Dec. 27 and stole the owner's life savings. The two men later split the money.

Wacht pleaded guilty on March 28 in exchange for his testimony against Predmore and was later sentenced to one to three years in prison.

Defense Attorney Robert Bahr argued that Predmore's prison sentence should run concurrent with the term he is currently serving - that is, he would serve both terms at the same time - because he has had a difficult life and that because, up until recently, he had been law abiding.

Predmore grew up in homes immersed in violence, Bahr said, he didn't have a criminal record until 2007 and was employed prior to his incarceration. In prison he is actively pursuing his GED, would like to join the military and has a young child.

"This is a case where an individual fell off the tracks but is now back in the right direction," Bahr said.

Additionally, Bahr said his co-defendant was sentenced to fewer years in prison.

Cayuga County Court Judge Thomas Leone said that a difficult childhood is no excuse for criminal activity. In fact, he said he was considering giving Predmore more time in prison.