Chambersburg man, 18, gets prison time in Popeye's robbery attempt

October 18, 2007

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - A Chambersburg man was sentenced Wednesday in Franklin County Court to 18 months to five years in state prison for his role in a 2006 robbery at Popeye's Chicken at 1332 Lincoln Way East.

Alfredo Espinoza, 18, of 238 E. King St., pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit robbery on Aug. 29, according to court records.

Pennsylvania State Police said Espinoza conspired with three other men and two juveniles to hold up the restaurant on Dec. 23, 2006.

The affidavit of probable cause stated that three masked men, two armed with what appeared to be pistols and the third holding a chain, entered the business at 8:44 p.m. One of the men grabbed the manager around the neck, but was bitten on the arm, police said.

The manager was struck in the head and the robbers fled, police said.

Among those charged in the incident, police said, were two juvenile employees of the restaurant who conspired with Espinoza and three other men to rob the business.

Espinoza was among 11 people who were charged earlier this year in connection with a series of armed robberies in Franklin and Fulton counties in December 2006 and January. The Popeye's holdup was the only one in which Espinoza was charged, according to court records.

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