AUGUSTA — For his role as driver in a robbery of an elderly Randolph man, Tyler J. Perry will serve four months behind bars and spend the remainder of almost a year on probation.

Perry, 29, of Gardiner, was sentenced Thursday in Kennebec County Superior Court after he was convicted of terrorizing. He had pleaded no contest to the charge, and Justice Nancy Mills accepted the sentencing recommendation of the state and Perry’s defense attorney, Brad Grant.

According to investigators, Perry was one of three men involved in a late-night break-in at the home of a 79-year-old man Sept. 22.

The resident was ordered at knife point to open his safe and was punched in the face when he refused, according to an affidavit filed by Deputy David Bucknam of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office Major Crime Unit. The homeowner was also told people would kill his son, who lived next door, if he refused.

DNA on items dropped by one of the robbers fleeing the scene was matched later to Kenneth Joseph Maker II, 26, of Readfield.

In April, Maker pleaded guilty to robbery, theft and burglary and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with all but seven years suspended, and four years’ probation.

A second codefendant, Jason A. Pratt, 35, of Gardiner, pleaded guilty June 13 to felony burglary and theft charges in connection with the home invasion, as well as a charge of violating conditions of release, and was sentenced to eight years in prison, with all but two years suspended, and three years’ probation.

Assistant District Attorney Joelle Pratt — no relation to the codefendant — said Perry drove the other two men and thought they were going to pick up marijuana. Pratt said Perry cooperated with authorities.

“His version of events corroborated evidence we have in the case,” Pratt said.

Defense Attorney Brad Grant said, “We’re not certain he’s guilty of anything. We feel very much Perry was the second-most-important piece of evidence in case against Kenneth Maker. The other was the item left behind.”

On a separate charge of domestic-violence assault from April 3 in Gardiner, Perry pleaded guilty and received a one-year deferred disposition with conditions that he complete a certified batterers’ intervention program and domestic-violence court, and he must have no contact with the victim, a woman.

If he is successful, that charge will be dismissed.

The full sentence on the terrorizing charge is 364 days in jail, with all but four months suspended, and one year of probation.

Conditions of Perry’s probation ban him from contact with the codefendants and from the victim.

“I just want to thank you for honoring my cooperation,” Perry told the judge.

Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com