55 years in jail for robber

The Queens man who terrorized a North Valley Stream family two years ago in a violent home invasion was handed a hefty jail term in Nassau County Court on Tuesday morning.

Levy Robinson, 46, of Jamaica, Queens, was sentenced to 55 years in prison by County Court Judge David Sullivan, along with five years of post-release supervision. After a three-week trial, he was convicted in March on several charges, including robbery, burglary, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. The jury found him guilty of 14 felonies and 11 misdemeanors.

On Jan. 16, 2012, at 9:15 p.m., Robinson and 37-year-old Timothy Capers broke into a home at the corner of Dana Avenue and Howell Road, tying up six occupants, including four children, ages 3 to 11. They then began ransacking the house. Police responded and they were able to get the residents out safely. Gunfire broke out in the home between officers and the suspects. Capers died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and Robinson was taken into custody.

The home, just feet from the Howell Road School property, was later torn down and rebuilt.

A third suspect, 25-year-old Varinder Singh of North Valley Stream, was also arrested for his involvement in planning the home invasion. He pleaded guilty last year to several charges and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

William Shanahan, Robinson’s attorney, plans to appeal. He said he believes there was some evidence that was prejudicial and should not have been part of the case, and would like that issue taken up with the Appellate Court.

Shanahan added that Robinson attests that he was coerced by Capers into committing this robbery. “He feel that he’s not guilty of the crime,” Shanahan said. “He still maintains his innocence.”

Officer Juan Giron, of the Nassau County Police Department, was first on scene after a 911 call was placed from one of the hostages. He was later promoted to detective.

“The brutality of this defendant’s crimes was matched by the bravery displayed by Officer Giron and his partners, who rescued the family targeted that night,” District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. “Thanks to the quick thinking of these officers, this defendant will not be able to terrorize our communities for a very long time.”