SHEFFIELD LAKE, Ohio — The man convicted of shooting an Amherst police officer during a standoff in Sheffield Lake in May 2018 was sentenced Monday in Lorain County Court of Common Pleas.
Martin Robinson was sentenced to 55 years in prison for a slew of charges the jury found him guilty of at the end of his trial on Friday.
Robinson was found guilty on Friday of the following charges:
- One count of attempted aggravated murder
- Five counts of attempted murder
- Seven counts of felonious assault
- One count of firearm specifications
Prosecutors dismissed a felony firearm specification; tampering with evidence charge and reduced the felony firearm specification; inducing panic charge to a misdemeanor.
Officer Eugene Ptacek, a 17-year veteran of Amherst police, was shot when he responded to Robinson, who was barricaded near the corner of Ferndale Avenue and Howell Street in Sheffield Lake.
During the standoff, Robinson exchanged gunfire with officers. Ptacek, who was shot during the standoff, was in critical condition in the hospital after the shooting and was later released in July 2018.
Before Robinson was sentenced, his aunt, Sandy Baker, spoke on his behalf about the nephew she knew before the May 2018 standoff and shooting.
"I think Martin is a victim, not necessarily what happened that day, but in life in general," Baker said, noting the sudden death of his grandfather while he was away at college and one week later, his mother having a massive heart attack.
She said her nephew was a "good kid" and a "good person," who always delivered flowers to her on Mother's Day. While she was speaking about her nephew, Robinson became visibly emotional.
When it came time for Martin, who was a former corrections officer at the Northeast Reintegration Center in Cleveland, to address the court, he showed little remorse for his actions that led to him shooting and injuring Officer Ptacek.
"I like it to be known I maintain my innocence even though I was found guilty. I am not going to sit here and say I show any remorse for the so-called victims or victim," Robinson said.
He continued to say, "If someone came to his house and did what he did, I am sure he would feel just like I do. It's human nature."
He said he was advised not to say too much, but made it clear to the court that he had a lot to say.
"I lived all my life according to the laws of this fine county, of this fine state, of United States of America. I've done my best to follow and uphold the laws, and now I am being judge on one sole incident. This justice system has failed me and I have watched it fail others over the year."
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