A Columbia man who said he was “the lookout” during a violent home invasion that left a couple fearing for their lives was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday.
Howard Circuit Judge Diane Leasure also required Tjon Johnson, 26, to seek mental health treatment.
“I think Tjon is one of these young men who did come to a better understanding of himself and accepted legal and moral responsibility for what he did wrong,” said Johnson?s attorney, Clarke Ahlers.
“He was raised better than that. … He doesn?t come from a thug family; he comes from a nice family.”
Johnson pleaded guilty in January to two counts of armed robbery, carrying a maximum of 20 years each.
Johnson told police he stood watch Jan. 17, 2007, as his three co-conspirators entered a house on Dasher Farm Court where the homeowner, Ranajit Chaudhry was watching a movie with his girlfriend, Courtney Hresko, according to court records.
The masked men struck Chaudhry in the face with a gun and duct-taped Chaudhry and Hresko to chairs. They took several items including a plasma television, paintings and a Rolex watch.
When Howard police arrested Johnson in March 2007, they asked him about the Rolex watch he was seen wearing.
Johnson said he bought it for $500 from a guy called “Fresh” who hung around a local McDonald?s.
He later admitted to buying the watch from co-conspirator Shamal Chapman, 28, who was sentenced in January to 20 years with all but 10 years suspended, according to court records.
Prosecutors called the crime “horrifying,” and the couple was so frightened by the incident they moved out of state.
