Drunken Man Robs Retired Probate Judge

Romero Geonee Neal drunkenly robbed an 80-year-old retired Muskegon County Probate Judge named Tom Linck. Neal reportedly robbed Judge Linck at gunpoint. Neal pleaded with his sentencing judge, Annette R. Smedley, but Judge Smedley stuck to her conviction and sentenced Neal to a minimum of 19 years in prison with a maximum of 32 years in prison. A parole board will determine whether Neal receives the minimum, maximum, or something in between 19 to 32 years. Neal pleaded no-contest to the charges that were levied against him, including “assault with intent to rob while armed,…[use of] a firearm to commit the felony,…assault with a dangerous weapon, and…felon in possession of a firearm.” Neal is also “a second-time habitual offender based on a 2011 felony conviction of larceny from a person.”

His attorney, Jason Jansma, claims that Neal would not have committed the crime but for the fact that he was intoxicated at the time of the robbery. When he committed the crime, Neal’s BAC (blood alcohol content) was .29, which is almost four times the legal limit. Neal was already serving time for his 2011 larceny conviction. In the course of the robbery, Neal apparently demanded money from Linck. When Linck told him that he did not have any, Neal became angry, fired a couple of shots near Linck’s feet, and then fired a few more shots. Linck also testified at the preliminary examination that Neal threatened people who tried to help the judge during the course of the robbery. Neal apologized to Judge Linck for his actions.

See John S. Hausman, Tearful, Remorseful Gunpoint Robber of 80-year-old Retired Muskegon Judge Gets Prison, Apr. 29, 2013.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.