A 20-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to 3 to 6 years in state prison for his role in a 2006 gunpoint robbery at a Landisville basketball court.

Jordan M. Toney pleaded guilty in July to robbery and criminal conspiracy in the attack on Eric Eshleman. Toney's brother and two friends also face charges.

On Thursday Toney apologized to the victim and his family as they watched from the courtroom gallery.

"I'm sorry, Eric, if I offended you in any way," Toney said. "I didn't mean for it to go that far, although it did."

Eshleman was robbed on May 23, 2006, at Amos Herr Park. Three of his friends had left the park after a pickup basketball game, leaving him alone with Toney, then 19, Toney's older brother, Leander Toney Jr., then 20, Chris Brooks, then 17, and Robert E. Martin, then 17, investigators have said.

Thursday's sentence was the first in the case. Brooks and Leander Toney Jr. are awaiting trial, the former on robbery and criminal conspiracy charges, the latter on a charge of hindering apprehension for allegedly driving the group from the scene. Martin's case is being handled in juvenile court.

Thursday, Eshleman testified about the incident in a presentencing hearing.

He said the robbery happened after the two groups of friends dispersed to their cars. Eshleman stayed on the court to practice.

The car containing Jordan Toney, his brother, Brooks and Martin didn't leave the lot, Eshleman testified.

Instead, Jordan Toney, Brooks and Martin got out of the car and asked Eshleman to help them find a cell phone, Eshleman testified.

"This is a young man who was in the process of trying to help you," County Judge Dennis Reinaker told Toney while sentencing him.

As he walked to his car, Eshleman said, Toney tackled him and he heard someone say, "Go get the gun."

"And before I knew it, there was a gun," Eshleman testified. He named Brooks as the gunman.

The gun was actually an air pistol, but Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Larsen argued that it looked and felt like a real firearm.

Larsen asked Eshleman if he thought the weapon was real.

"No question. It was heavy. I felt the pressure (on my head)," Eshleman replied. "I definitely thought it was a real firearm."

Eshleman testified that once Brooks held the gun at his head, Toney disengaged from him and walked away.

Toney then helped Martin rifle through Eshleman's car, according to investigators. They took a few minor items, but nothing of significant value, according to testimony.

Reinaker recommended Toney be eligible for a boot camp program after serving part of his prison term. The 20-year-old also will be on probation for 4 years.

Reinaker said he considered Toney's strong work record and short criminal record before handing down the sentence. Toney has a conviction for retail theft.

The judge also stressed that Toney never held the gun during the robbery.

He may not have even known it was in the car, the judge said.

Defense attorney Cory Miller told the judge that Toney had a high school diploma and was attending college as well as trying to support his young son.

"Jordan is not a bum," Miller told the judge. "Lord knows I have those (types of) clients, but Jordan is not one of them."

The judge agreed that Toney had attempted to better himself.

"It's unusual to see someone who has the ability and has made the effort," the judge said.

"That makes this all the more difficult to understand that you made this decision."

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com