LIVONIA (WWJ) - A Sterling Heights man has been sentenced to prison for beating up and carjacking and elderly woman outside of a Walmart store.
Jason Malinas, 38, was sentenced Friday to nine to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of carjacking and unarmed robbery last month. He'll receive credit for 107 days already served.
Malinas, through attorney Matthew Evans, said he had a bad drug problem, which led him to knock down and rob the 88-year old victim in a Walmart parking lot, on Plymouth Road near Middlebelt in Livonia, back in September.
"He has a bad drug problem, a terrible drug problem -- and that's not an excuse for what had happened, but he has cooperated totally with the police and he gave a statement that was extremely apologetic," said Evans.
The victim did not attend sentencing, but Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Strace said the woman's life will never be the same.
"I have spoken with the victim, Mrs. Kevelighan, and she indicates that this has completely changed her life for the worst. Her sense of security has been completely torn, she has a hard time going outside, she's seeking counseling but this affects her every day," Strace said.
According to police, the victim was outside of her vehicle parked in a handicapped spot when Malinas came up behind her and grabbed her purse. The victim tried to use her cane to fight him off, police said, but she was punched in the face and thrown to the ground.
Malinas took the woman's purse and got into the her car, police said, as accomplice 41-year-old Jessica St. Clair jumped into passenger's seat. The pair then fled the scene, nearly running over the victim in the process, according a witness.
The pair was caught by police several hours later, walking near Telegraph and Joy roads. Police say they went on a crime spree to get money to buy drugs.
St. Clair is set to be sentenced next month.
