News

August 27, 2008

Woman admits she robbed man

Pleads guilty to taking $100 from 71-year-old at ATM. He chased and tackled her.

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Sheena Delazio on Facebook   |   @TLSheenaDelazio on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE – A few months pregnant and recovering from a heroin addiction, 22-year-old Erin Vanmatre learned on Tuesday she could spend up to seven years in prison for robbing an elderly man in June.

Vanmatre, formerly of Kingston, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony count of robbery, one count of theft by unlawful taking and one count of reckless endangerment of another person after police said she stole $100 from a man who was withdrawing money from an automated-teller machine.

According to arrest records, police were summoned to Citizens Bank on South Wyoming Avenue in Kingston just after 10 a.m. June 2 when Harry Kopenis, then 71, said Vanmatre forcefully took $100 from his hands at an ATM. Kopenis said he chased Vanmatre through the parking lot where he tackled her, police said. She was also restrained by Kevin Lamb, who was in a wheelchair, until police arrived.

“The surprising factors in this case are that the robbery occurred on Wyoming Avenue in broad daylight,” said Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Ferentino.

Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Burke said Vanmatre could face up to seven years in prison and a $30,000 fine if her sentence runs consecutively.

“She’s a young heroin addict who has been in and out of treatment,” said Vanmatre’s attorney, Martin Mullaney, of Skippack. “She’s currently pregnant and her mother, sister and brother are in court today. We’re going to cooperate and continue to proceed.”

A pre-sentence investigation will be conducted since Vanmatre has a prior record and is serving two years probation, one each in Delaware and Bucks counties. She is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:15 a.m. Oct. 15 before Burke.

“I’m currently involved in drug and alcohol counseling,” Vanmatre said Tuesday.

Ferentino said he doubts Vanmatre will serve a sentence of seven years for her crime.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews