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Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison For Trying to Torch MTA Worker, DA Says

By Ben Fractenberg | August 17, 2017 7:32am
 Everett Robinson, 52, was sentenced to seven years in prison for trying to set an MTA worker on fire during a botched robbery in Crown Heights, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.
Everett Robinson, 52, was sentenced to seven years in prison for trying to set an MTA worker on fire during a botched robbery in Crown Heights, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.
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Brooklyn District Attorney

BROOKLYN — A Brooklyn man was sentenced to seven years in prison Wednesday for trying to set an MTA employee on fire during a botched robbery in Crown Heights, the Brooklyn District Attorney said.

Everett Robinson, 52, sprayed a flammable liquid that smelled like gasoline into the station booth slot where an employee was working at the Eastern Parkway station on Aug. 12, 2016. He then told the worker, “Let me get the money or I’ll light you up,” before he set fire to a folded shirt, which then fell to the floor, causing the station to fill with smoke.

“This defendant tried to rob an MTA employee who was simply doing her job and put her and the public in serious danger when he started a fire inside a subway station, making the prison term he received today appropriate and just,” said acting Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez.

“I am committed to protecting our dedicated transit workers, who all too often are targets of threats and violence, and will continue to ensure that those who attack them are punished.”

The station booth fire safety system kept the fire from spreading to the worker and two good Samaritans then put out the flames, according to the DA’s office.

The worker was uninjured and an officer identified Robinson, who lives in Crown Heights, several days later while canvassing the area with the station booth agent.

Robinson pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery in July and was sentenced in Brooklyn Supreme Court by Judge Bruce Balter.

His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.