Robert L. White received a sentence of 34 months in prison Friday for his role in a shootout at the Jump Start in Winfield in the fall of 2007.
White entered a plea of no contest to a count of aggravated battery and, with five prior offenses, met the criteria for receiving the harshest sentence possible for the crime to which he pleaded guilty. He originally faced an attempted murder charge but reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.
White was in a shootout with Aaron Brown, Arkansas City, at the Jump Start on Main. Police estimated that 20 or more shots were fired. Brown’s attorney, David Maslen, had asked for a sentence of 32 months because evidence suggested that Brown was the aggressor during the incident.
St. Peter agreed Brown had offered up "some level of provocation" but denied the request for a lighter sentence. Brown was struck by a bullet but suffered only minor injuries.
White gets credit for 549 days toward his sentence, for time he’s spent in jail. He can receive a 15-percent reduction in his time for good behavior.
White offered only a brief comment when given a chance to address the court.
"I commend my attorney and his patience in dealing with me in this case," he said.
