Lansdale Grocery Store Robber Gets 23 Months in Prison

A Lansdale man who robbed a Bengali convenience store on West Main Street in September 2011 is headed to Montgomery County prison for up to 23 months, according to Montgomery News.

Mark Steven Williams Jr., 22, of the 800 block of West Fifth Street, was sentenced last week in county court, according to court records.

Williams Jr. pleaded guilty to felony robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery for holding up Famous Grocery at 21 W. Main St.

According to the article, Williams Jr. also gets four years’ probation after release, and is eligible for work release.

Williams Jr. must also pay half of a $1,350 restitution, according to court records.

Williams Jr.’s alleged cohort in the robbery, Jurell Smalls, is awaiting trial.

Lansdale Police arrested and charged Williams Jr. with the robbery in September 2012, one year after the incident.

Smalls was the gunman in the robbery; Williams was his accomplice, police said.

At a November 2012 preliminary hearing, the owner of the convenience store testified via interpreter that he was forced at gunpoint by Smalls to open his register by one of two men that entered through the back door of his store. It was open for business during the robbery, and the owner was alone.

When the owner didn’t comply with Smalls’ alleged demands, he fired a shot from his BB gun into the floor. Williams then opened the register and took the money.

Read more about it here.

On Sept. 27, Williams pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge from Sept. 11, 2012, according to court records.

Williams was last arrested on criminal charges in Lansdale in May 2009 for theft, receiving stolen property, drug possession, loitering and prowling, theft from a motor vehicle and criminal attempted theft, according to court records.

Williams pleaded guilty to the theft from motor vehicle charge at Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in August 2009, according to court records. All other charges were either dismissed or withdrawn by the prosecution.

Williams was sentenced to three years' probation and 22 days in prison, plus community service,according to court records.