A man who stole $1,500 from an Auburn gas station while there to cut the owner's hair was sentenced in Cayuga County Court Tuesday to two to four years in prison instead of the original 1.5 to three years he had hoped to receive.

When Robert Johnson, 37, of 48 Elizabeth St., Auburn, originally pleaded guilty on July 2, he was promised the shorter sentence if he used his $1,500 bail to make full restitution.

During Tuesday's court session, Johnson said he needed to return the bail to his wife in order to support their children, even if it meant a longer prison sentence.

Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said he believed the sentence was appropriate for Johnson, who had three previous felony convictions in addition to two pending charges in Auburn City Court.

Budelmann also said Johnson had attempted to deny responsibility even after he pleaded guilty.

During a presentence investigation, Johnson told probation officers he believed the evidence against him was circumstantial because no one saw him take the money.

During Tuesday's court session, Johnson said he used the opportunity to tell his side of the story to the officers, but admitted he was still guilty.

Besides the owner, Johnson was the only person who had access to the money which was stored in a desk in the store's office, Budelmann said.

Also in court:

• A Waterloo man will spend his weekends in jail for the next four months as a condition of his five-year probation sentence for driving while intoxicated.

David Markel, 28, of 58 Church St., Waterloo, had pleaded guilty on June 24 to his fourth DWI conviction.

Under the conditions of his probation, Markel will lose his license, he will have to pay more than $2,500 in fines and he will have to get an ignition interlock device which will only allow his vehicle to start if he tests negative for alcohol.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net