Wildwood, China House robber gets 8 years
By Marguerite Alexander
Correspondent, The Sun
 When James Allen Crawford stood before Judge Ron Stone on Monday to receive his sentence after pleading guilty to theft, robbery and resisting arrest charges, he was more subdued than he appeared in July when he criticized the judicial system, requested a new attorney and asked for a trial. This time around he told the judge he was ready to accept his sentence.
“I’m going to take my punishment—whatever it might be,” Crawford told the judge.
The 30-year-old Sheridan man faced multiple charges in connection with four separate incidents that occurred within the past nine months. After turning down a plea agreement on July 19 and being assigned Attorney Mark Lawrence as co-council with Attorney Ted Coran, Crawford had a change of heart.
Recently he pleaded guilty to one count each of second-degree robbery and third-degree robbery for his role in the China House robbery in McMinnville, second-degree theft for the cash register from the Wildwood Café in Willamina, first-degree theft for pawning a diamond ring he stole from his aunt and resisting arrest when deputies took him into custody on an outstanding warrant. Multiple other charges were dropped in the plea agreement.
When all the sentences were added together, Crawford faces 95 months—one month shy of 8 years—in prison.
Crawford was also sentenced to three years post-prison supervision and will be required to follow mandates imposed for offenders with drug and gambling histories. Crawford was also ordered to pay $6,796 in restitution to a string of victims left in the wake of his crime sprees.
“I was wrong. That’s all there is to it,” Crawford told the judge. He apologized to the court and to the victims—some of whom attended the sentencing hearing.
Lawrence told Stone that his client told him that he didn’t intend to hurt anyone. “He understands very clearly that he did—a lot of people,” Lawrence added.
Now Crawford is determined to change his life, the defense attorney said, and would be taking classes in prison to help prepare him.
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