ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A 20-year-old convicted criminal will spend the rest of his life in prison for his part in a terrifying robbery. The sentenced handed down Tuesday was just too much for his family.
Some of Marvin Howard's family members stormed out of an Orange County courtroom as he was sentenced.
Howard is one of a group of thieves caught on surveillance camera as they robbed an Ocoee jewelry store in September 2011.
Howard apologized to one of his victims during the hearing, but that didn't cause the judge to go easy on him. She described how Howard held three women at gunpoint, threatening to shoot them if they cried. She decided he deserved a life sentence.
The moment Howard was sentenced to life in prison he turned and told his family he loved them.
His relatives sobbed as he was led out of the courtroom.
Some of them had tried to convince the judge that Howard did not deserve the maximum sentence for his role in this violent robbery caught on surveillance video.
While Howard held the women at gunpoint, three other suspects ransacked the Pandora's Box Jewelry Store.
One of the employees testified tearfully at the sentencing.
"I don't understand their pain just like I'm sure they don't understand my pain," said Debbie Falu.
Falu said the robbery left her traumatized. She said she relives the moments she thought she was going to die.
"I felt that once it was over he was going to shoot us. Just end our lives because we saw his face," she said.
Howard expressed remorse in court Tuesday.
"I want to apologize to Ms. Falu for the pain and turmoil she had to go through," said Howard.
As he left the courtroom, Howard turned to his victim one last time and winked.
WFTV
