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Lohr receives 12 years in prison for home invasion

Photo by Chad Plauche-Adkins Robert Lohr begins his 12-year prison term after sentencing on Thursday in Washington County Common Pleas Court.

MARIETTA — A New Matamoras man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday for orchestrating a home invasion that resulted in an injury by gunshot.

Robert Lohr, 27, of 817 Grandview Ave., pleaded guilty on Nov. 21 to five felony charges and a gun specification tied to one of the charges.

According to prosecutors, on Feb. 15, Lohr and accomplice Cody Hinkle, 26, of Jacobsville went to the home of Lionel Gore, 54, of Grandview Township, in order to retrieve a gun they said Gore had stolen earlier in the day during a drug deal with Lohr. According to Washington County Prosecutor Kevin Rings, Lohr recruited Hinkle for the home invasion due to their ties to a prison gang.

The pair arrived at Gore’s home with guns drawn as they approached the front door, according to prosecutors. Gore had a home security system through which he was able to see the pair nearing his home and reacted before they got to his door. Gore opened the door with his weapon drawn, resulting in gunfire from all three men. Hinkle and Lohr fled the scene after Gore was shot in the finger.

During the sentencing, Washington County Assistant Prosecutor David Silwani requested the maximum sentence from Common Pleas Court Judge Randall Burnworth.

“Consider the maximum term of 14 years,” said Silwani. “His crimes started in 2002 and haven’t stopped at all. He is unwilling to conform to the laws of our state.”

Before sentencing Lohr said his addiction to methamphetamine was the real reason for his violent tendencies.

“This indictment and charges aren’t who I am,” he said. “I know what I did was wrong, but I think eight years is enough time…I promise I will never go back to prison after I get out.”

Lohr’s appeals to Burnworth didn’t sway his ruling too far in his favor, though.

“Our society absolutely cannot endure individuals going to other people’s houses with loaded guns,” Burnworth said. “It creates a possibility that someone will end up dead.”

For the first-degree felony charge of aggravated burglary, Lohr was sentenced to nine years in prison. For the second-degree felony of felonious assault he was sentenced to seven years. For the two third-degree felonies of tampering with evidence and weapons under disability he received five and a half years in prison. His final charge of aggravated drug possession garnered Lohr another seven years of confinement. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.

The gun specification on the felonious assault charge allowed Burnworth to sentence Lohr to another three years in prison. This time is to be served consecutively, giving Lohr a total of 12 years in prison. Lohr was also ordered to be under community control for five years after his release.

Hinkle also pleaded guilty for his role in the crime and received nine years prison and five years community control upon release.

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