GARNERVILLE MAN CONVICTED IN VIOLENT ASSAULT AND ROBBERY OF PIZZA DELIVERYMAN

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Rasean Coble (DOB 08/21/87) of 153 Ramapo Road, Garnerville, New York was convicted Tuesday after a jury trial for leading the violent assault and robbery of a pizza deliveryman on Christmas Day, 2008.

Coble was convicted of:

• One count of Robbery in the First Degree, a class “B” violent Felony

• One count of Robbery in the Second Degree, a class “C” violent Felony

On December 25th, 2008, at approximately 10:40 p.m., an order was placed with Dominos Pizza in West Haverstraw for delivery to 176 Ramapo Road, Apartment 4C in Garnerville.

The order would turn out to be a set up for a violent robbery.

Upon arrival with the delivery, the Domino’s employee was met outside by two men.The victim was asked to follow the men downstairs for payment. As the victim reached the bottom of the stairs, he observed a third man. A split-second attempt to run by the victim was quickly ended when he was set-upon and struck several times by the trio.

The victim then stood up and was held by the three men as Coble entered from an adjacent laundry room brandishing a pistol. The defendant ordered the deliveryman to his knees, where he was struck with the weapon on the side of the head. The victim was also punched and kicked by each of the four men.

The assailants stole approximately $100 from the victim, plus his cell phone and the pizzas. The victim called police moments later.

Responding Haverstraw police officers located three of the four pizza boxes outside of 176 Ramapo Road, not far from the scene of the crime. The fingerprints of the defendant were located on one of the pizza boxes. The telephone number provided by the person who placed the order, as well as the apartment number they provided, were later found to be fictional.

Jurors deciding the case in the courtroom of Acting Supreme Court Judge Catherine M. Bartlett on December 8th, 2009 returned a verdict of guilty on all charges.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 9th, 2010. Coble faces up to 25 years in state prison.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Richard Kennison Moran and Assistant District Attorney Tanya Gayle.