5-Year Sentence For Accomplice in Christmas Day 2011 Cheltenham Murder
By Brad Segall
CHELTENHAM, Pa. (CBS) -- The accomplice in a deadly shooting on Christmas Day 2011 in Montgomery County -- a shooting that prosecutors say was sparked by jealousy -- will spend time in state prison.
But that time will be far less than the sentence given to the gunman.
Montgomery County judge Joseph Smythe sentenced Ezra Childs to 5-10 years behind bars followed by five years' probation.
The 22-year-old Philadelphia man pleaded guilty last year to third-degree murder and carrying a gun without a license (see related story).
The triggerman, Rayshon Carwheel, is now serving 22½ to 50 years on similar charges (see related story).
Prosecutor Samantha Cauffman wanted a more significant sentence for Childs.
"The Commonwealth was disappointed," she said today, "but we do respect the judge's decision. We thought that the defendant on the stand didn't quite admit to the responsibility that he should have, to deserve a sentence such as that."
Carwheel shot and killed Robens Borno, who was wrapping Christmas presents with his new girlfriend in her Cheltenham home (see related story). She had had a long relationship with Carwheel and is the mother of his child.
Cauffman believes Childs is remorseful but knew more about what was going to happen that night than what he told police.
