Photo: iStock
June 22, 2015 By Christian Murray
One of the two men who beat and robbed an 81-year-old Sunnysider at a Chase bank branch last year has been sentenced to six months prison, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
Thomas Fulwood, who was sentenced Friday, was charged with robbery in the third degree after his role in robbery of William Eichhorn, a 50 year resident of the Phipps Houses. The defendant was also sentenced to 5 years probation.
Fulwood, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office, waited by the bank machines inside the 46-10 Chase branch at about 9:30 am on Sunday, Oct. 26.
When Eichhorn withdrew $100, Fulwood and his accomplice, Terrel Blanding, demanded that he hand over the money. When Eichhorn refused Blanding punched him in the face and threw him on the ground.
The men then riffled through his pockets, stole the $100 and fled with his debit card.
As part of the sentence, there is an order of protection for Eichhorn, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
“To get six months is ridiculous,” said Katy Flanagan, Eichhorn’s granddaughter.
“To be a conspirator in this crime and assist in assault of an 81 year old man…I don’t have words for it.”
She said that Fulwood gets six months yet her grandfather has lost his sense of security and independence.
Blanding, who actually punched Eichhorn in the face, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6. He entered a plea deal on June 11, according to the District Attorney’s office,
The court’s press office did not know the details of the deal at the time of publication.
However, Flanagan said that she was in court with her grandfather when the plea deal was struck. Eichhorn happened to be testifying against Blanding that day.
She said that her family was told by the Assistant District Attorney that Blanding pleaded guilty to two class A misdemeanors and would be sentenced to 2 years in prison.
The ADA could not be reached for confirm the details.
