Robbery, assault, and weapons convictions also lead to prison time
A 22-year-old Wilmington man will face life in prison when sentenced for a 2017 shooting in the city. A Superior Court jury convicted Kashiem Thomas of Murder First Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony related to the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Keeven Hale. In February 2017, Hale was outside of his home in the 600 block of East 23rd Street when gunfire erupted. Hale sustained multiple shotgun wounds resulting in his death, but first was presumably able to return fire, striking Thomas in the back and rendering him incapable of further movement where he remained on scene until police and EMS responded. A judge will sentence Thomas in August. Deputy Attorneys General Cari Chapman and Renee Hrivnak prosecuted the case with the work by Detective Mary Quinn of the Wilmington Police Department, and DOJ paralegal AnnMarie Corrigan, DOJ social worker/victim advocate Kristen Fluharty-Emory, and DOJ investigator Thomas C. Dempsey.
A guilty plea to an alleged crime spree involving the robbery of more than a dozen businesses will mean prison time for a 30-year-old Wilmington man. Deputy Attorneys General Timothy Maguire and Danielle Brennan secured the plea from Kori Thomas to 2 counts of Robbery First Degree and one count of Attempted Assault Second Degree. During the spring of 2017, Thomas is believed to have committed 13 robberies at convenience stores throughout the Wilmington and New Castle area over a month span. Because of previous convictions for weapons and burglary offenses, a Superior Court judge will sentence Thomas as a habitual offender in August. Thomas faces a minimum mandatory sentence of at least 28 years in prison. DOJ social worker Crystal Pitts and paralegal Julie Caputo assisted with the prosecution.
Deputy Attorney General Phillip Casale secured a guilty plea from the man responsible for a 2017 stabbing at the Christiana Mall. Richard Williams, 47, of Wilmington, pled guilty in Superior Court to Assault Second Degree and 2 counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. In February 2017, Williams approached a man at the bus shelter outside of the mall and assaulted him with a knife. Williams also threatened multiple law enforcement and mall security officers with the knife. Based on his prior felony convictions for drug offenses and resisting arrest, a judge will sentence Williams as a habitual offender in September, when he will face a minimum sentence of 12 years in prison. Delaware State Police Detective Christian Hevelow was the chief investigating officer, Willie Santiago was the DOJ investigator, and Courtney Cochran was the social worker on the case.
A 35-year-old Millington, MD man received a prison sentence after pleading guilty to robbery and weapons charges. In the span of a week in the summer of 2017, police believe Victor Lasanta robbed 2 gas stations and a convenience store in the Newark area, including threatening the employee at one gas station with a knife. Deputy Attorney General Marc Petrucci secured a guilty plea to Robbery First Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Robbery Second Degree, and Attempted Robbery. A Superior Court judge immediately sentenced Lasanta to 5 years in prison, followed by the completion of the CREST substance abuse treatment program then one year of probation. Delaware State Police Troop 2’s Robbery Unit and Newark Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Unit were responsible for the investigation and arrest.