One by one, the young robbers stood before the Lancaster County Court judge on Monday for sentencing.

Each was described by his attorney as intelligent, with great potential and having a loving, supportive family.

And each one, apologizing and accepting responsibility for his actions, was given a lengthy state prison sentence.

"The choice is yours — always has been," Judge Jeffery Wright told each defendant, advising the men to use their "God-given gifts" and lead productive lives.

• Randall James Hecker Jr., 20, participated in a two-week crime spree that police said included stealing cookies during the robbery of an elderly Washington Boro woman and an attempted home-invasion robbery in Lancaster Township.

"This is not the life I want to lead," Hecker told the judge.

Hecker said he plans to take advantage of every educational and vocational-training program in prison "so I'll be ready" to be a productive citizen when released.

Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Flannery called the case "very disturbing" and one in which someone easily could have been killed.

But it was Hecker's codefendant, Antwan Ressel, she said, who carried the gun in the crime spree and had a prior criminal record. Ressel, she noted, was sentenced to 18 to 36 years in prison for the crimes in January 2007.

"The other difference" between Hecker and Ressel, defense attorney Patricia Spotts told the judge, pointing to the row of people sitting in the back of the courtroom, is Hecker's supportive family.

Hecker, standing in the middle of the courtroom, turned and apologized repeatedly to members of his family, many of whom wept as he spoke.

"I believe in redemption," Wright told Hecker. "You owe it to them to turn it around."

Hecker was sentenced to 6½ to 14 years in state prison.

• Two brothers who robbed a couple inside their South West End Avenue home in May 2008 also were sentenced by Wright.

Lavann Lewis, 28, held a screwdriver against another man's neck as he took $70 that he believed he was owed during the incident at the home, the judge was told.

"I want to apologize. I made a stupid mistake, and I jeopardized my whole family," Lewis said. "I make no excuses whatsoever."

Lewis said he had anger issues, which Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman described as "worrisome."

Defense attorney Cory Miller noted that Lewis had completed anger-management, drug and educational courses at county prison.

"You are intelligent, articulate and know the value of family," Wright told Lewis.

"You have a lot of God-given gifts and a lot of time to decide which way you want to go," the judge said, sentencing Lewis to 6 to 12 years in state prison.

As sheriffs deputies handcuffed the defendant, Lewis said he had one more thing to tell the judge.

"I want to thank you," Lewis said.

Robert Lewis, 33, had been out of prison a few months on another charge when he went with his brother to the home that night.

"I take responsibility for it, asking the court to show a little leniency," he told the judge. "I still have a lot of goodness in me."

Defense attorney Janice Longer said that when her client was released from state prison before, "he was trying to do the right thing — he was looking for work, he was in a relationship and trying to re-establish family ties."

But it was those family ties, she said, that landed Robert Lewis in trouble when he accompanied his brother to the home.

Longer described her client as "intelligent and well-read" and said he's trying to make the most of his time in prison.

"I'm not throwing you away," Wright told Robert Lewis, sentencing him to 5 to 10 years in state prison.

"The choice, as it always has been, is in your hands," Wright told him.

jkelley@lnpnews.com