08-02-2011, 10:14 PM
FILTH TAKES THEIR BABY ON AN ARMED ROBBERY. and leaves him behind.
PHILADELPHIA — A North Philadelphia couple charged with stealing more than $70,000 in rings from a Philadelphia jewelry store — abandoning their 4-year-old son after the man slashed the jeweler’s throat — were found guilty on all charges Tuesday by a jury.
The reading of the Common Pleas Court jury’s verdict was punctuated by a loud shriek from a niece of defendant John Benson.
Though deputies quickly removed Dawn Benson-Saunders from the courtroom, her hysterical screams could be heard echoing through the closed door.
Benson, 48, and Sheakia Stubbs, 32, were charged in the Feb. 27, 2010, theft at the Platinum & Ice jewelry store.
Benson, however, was found guilty of the more serious charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault for slashing jeweler Yaniv Cohen after Cohen chased him down the street, cornered him and demanded the rings’ return.
Benson was also found guilty of robbery, conspiracy, retail theft and child endangerment.
Stubbs, who was with Benson in the store and is the mother of their 4-year-old son, Simir, was found guilty of conspiracy, retail theft and child endangerment.
Judge Charles J. Cunningham III set sentencing for both to take place on Sept. 21.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Lipscomb said Benson faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 to 20 years but added that he would seek a longer term.
For Stubbs, however, the conviction was almost academic: She had already served 17 months since arrest — three months longer than the outside of the sentencing guideline range.
Cunningham released her without requiring the posting of bail but ordered her to return Sept. 21 for sentencing.
Afterward, Benson-Saunders, 38, said she could not understand how the jury found her uncle guilty of attempted murder.
"And why does she get to go free?" Benson-Saunders added, referring to Stubbs. "She left the boy behind, too."
Witnesses identified Benson, Stubbs and their son as the trio who entered the jewelry store about 3 p.m. and asked to look at rings.
Stubbs took Simir and moved to the door, asking to leave. Benson, witnesses said, distracted a salesman, scooped up some rings, and ran from the store with Simir in tow. Stubbs fled in a different direction.
After being chased and confronted by Cohen, Benson slashed the jeweler’s throat with a razor and ran, leaving his son behind.
Benson’s attorney, Bruce Wolf, urged the jury to focus on evidence that was not present: no fingerprints and no one in the store who actually saw Benson grab the rings. EXCEPT THE POOR BASTARD WHOSE THROAT WAS SLASHED!
Stubbs was charged because she held ajar the remote-control door so Benson could escape. The store’s door had to be buzzed open by the owner for customers to enter or leave.
Cohen was treated and released for the wound, though he still has a five-inch scar. None of the jewelry was recovered.
After Benson bolted, Cohen took Simir to a police station. Simir was in foster care for seven months before he was released to Stubbs’ brother.
Stubbs’ attorney, Kristin Quinn, said she did not know if Stubbs would immediately be permitted to see her son.
The Philadelphia Inquirer.
![[Image: Jewelry_Store_Benson_Stubbs.jpg]](http://media.nbcphiladelphia.com/images/654*368/Jewelry_Store_Benson_Stubbs.jpg)
PHILADELPHIA — A North Philadelphia couple charged with stealing more than $70,000 in rings from a Philadelphia jewelry store — abandoning their 4-year-old son after the man slashed the jeweler’s throat — were found guilty on all charges Tuesday by a jury.
The reading of the Common Pleas Court jury’s verdict was punctuated by a loud shriek from a niece of defendant John Benson.
Though deputies quickly removed Dawn Benson-Saunders from the courtroom, her hysterical screams could be heard echoing through the closed door.
Benson, 48, and Sheakia Stubbs, 32, were charged in the Feb. 27, 2010, theft at the Platinum & Ice jewelry store.
Benson, however, was found guilty of the more serious charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault for slashing jeweler Yaniv Cohen after Cohen chased him down the street, cornered him and demanded the rings’ return.
Benson was also found guilty of robbery, conspiracy, retail theft and child endangerment.
Stubbs, who was with Benson in the store and is the mother of their 4-year-old son, Simir, was found guilty of conspiracy, retail theft and child endangerment.
Judge Charles J. Cunningham III set sentencing for both to take place on Sept. 21.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Lipscomb said Benson faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 to 20 years but added that he would seek a longer term.
For Stubbs, however, the conviction was almost academic: She had already served 17 months since arrest — three months longer than the outside of the sentencing guideline range.
Cunningham released her without requiring the posting of bail but ordered her to return Sept. 21 for sentencing.
Afterward, Benson-Saunders, 38, said she could not understand how the jury found her uncle guilty of attempted murder.
"And why does she get to go free?" Benson-Saunders added, referring to Stubbs. "She left the boy behind, too."
Witnesses identified Benson, Stubbs and their son as the trio who entered the jewelry store about 3 p.m. and asked to look at rings.
Stubbs took Simir and moved to the door, asking to leave. Benson, witnesses said, distracted a salesman, scooped up some rings, and ran from the store with Simir in tow. Stubbs fled in a different direction.
After being chased and confronted by Cohen, Benson slashed the jeweler’s throat with a razor and ran, leaving his son behind.
Benson’s attorney, Bruce Wolf, urged the jury to focus on evidence that was not present: no fingerprints and no one in the store who actually saw Benson grab the rings. EXCEPT THE POOR BASTARD WHOSE THROAT WAS SLASHED!
Stubbs was charged because she held ajar the remote-control door so Benson could escape. The store’s door had to be buzzed open by the owner for customers to enter or leave.
Cohen was treated and released for the wound, though he still has a five-inch scar. None of the jewelry was recovered.
After Benson bolted, Cohen took Simir to a police station. Simir was in foster care for seven months before he was released to Stubbs’ brother.
Stubbs’ attorney, Kristin Quinn, said she did not know if Stubbs would immediately be permitted to see her son.
The Philadelphia Inquirer.