GROVES, Texas — A man convicted of aggravated robbery was sentenced to 35 years in prison after investigators accused him of stabbing the victim in the arm and stealing drugs, money and truck keys from a home in Groves.
Ryan Camille Roccaforte was sentenced for the March 2017 robbery on Thursday after investigators said he robbed a man in a home on South Drive according to a Jefferson County District Attorney's Office news release.
Investigators said Roccaforte was shot in the back with birdshot as he left the home.
Police found him hiding in a carport on Berry Street with wounds from being shot and from the knife used in the robbery.
The victim testified Roccaforte had delivered 3 grams of meth to sell, and when Roccaforte couldn't get in touch with the victim, he went to the home on South Drive to get money and drugs.
From a Jefferson County Sheriff's Office news release:
Ryan Camille Roccaforte was sentenced by a jury to 35 years in prison for an Aggravated Robbery that occurred March 21, 2017, in Groves, Texas. Roccaforte had a previous conviction in 2007 for Aggravated Robbery where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Officers of the Groves Police Department responded to a home on South Drive in Groves about 7:35 a.m. in reference to a shooting. When they arrived, they discovered that the victim in the Robbery had been stabbed in the arm by Roccaforte. The victim retrieved a shotgun from the home and followed Roccaforte outside where he shot Roccaforte in the back with birdshot as Roccaforte fled the scene. Groves police began a search for Roccaforte who was found hiding in a carport on Berry Street in Groves. He had wounds from being shot and the knife used in the Aggravated Robbery. He claimed he was just defending himself.
Testimony from the victim showed that Roccaforte took drugs, money, and keys to the victim’s truck. The victim testified Roccaforte had delivered 3 grams of Methamphetamines to him to sell on the streets. When Roccaforte couldn’t get in touch with the victim, he went to the home on South Drive to retrieve money and drugs. He attacked the victim and stabbed him in the process.
This case was investigated by the Groves Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mike Laird and Raymond Shearer. The jury trial was held in the Criminal District Court and was presided over by Judge John Stevens.
Prosecutor Mike Laird stated, “This case created a lot of violence in a neighborhood with families. It was unnecessary violence over a small amount of drugs. The community is safer because a jury did what was necessary. I am grateful for the Groves Police Department and the help from the investigators and prosecutors in my team. ”
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