The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) -- A man who shot a city police captain after the officer foiled a Harlem social club robbery was sentenced Monday to 18 years to life in prison.
Roland Roberts, 24, pleaded guilty last month to first-degree attempted murder in shooting Capt. Kenneth Girven, 35, in August 2003. He admitted firing the shot that hit Girven in the abdomen just below his bulletproof vest.
Justice Carol Berkman of Manhattan state Supreme Court also sentenced Roberts to two to four years in prison on his plea to fourth-degree grand larceny. That sentence will be served concurrently with the attempted murder sentence.
Girven was in court for the proceeding. “I wanted to see the person who shot me get sentenced,” he said. “You can’t just shoot a police officer and get away with it. I’m happy that he’ll spend the best years of his life in prison.”
Girven, a 13-year veteran of the police force, said he was back at work with the Manhattan North patrol area and “doing pretty good” despite “a few aches and pains.”
Roberts, a predicate felon who pleaded guilty to drug charges in the Bronx in April 2001, shot the captain on Aug. 27, 2003 when Girven approached him on 154th Street between Eighth and Bradhurst Avenues shortly before 12:30 a.m.
Police said that when Girven saw Roberts duck behind a car, he got out of his unmarked patrol car and said, “Police. What’s up?”
Roberts fired at Girven three times, hitting him in the abdomen, and fled, the felony complaint filed against the defendant said.
Acting on a tip, detectives found Roberts at his father’s home in East Harlem. He admitted he was at the scene, police said, and Girven identified him in a lineup.
The complaint said Roberts was wearing a bulletproof vest and admitted he was on his way to a social club where gambling was taking place when Girven pulled up.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly suggested Roberts was going to rob the gamblers.
Three others were charged in connection with the incident. Stacy Liggan and Edward Bowman are to start trial Jan. 12 on charges of first-degree assault, attempted robbery, criminal weapons possession and conspiracy to commit robbery.
The case against Jason Rivera, indicted in September 2003 for first degree assault, attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, is still pending.