A 30-year-old Topeka man found guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated burglary last month was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 20 years.

A jury in March found Archie Robinson guilty in the March 8, 2014, shooting death of 39-year-old Patrick Roberts, of Lawrence. Prosecutors Amy McGowan and Alice Walker argued that the death was an aggravated burglary gone wrong.

photo by: Kansas Department of Corrections

Archie Lamont Robinson

At the sentencing hearing Thursday, Robinson made a short statement maintaining his innocence, but Judge Paula Martin ultimately handed down the life sentence.

Robinson also received a 57-month sentence for the aggravated burglary charge, but the court ruled that sentence will be served concurrently with the life sentence.

At Robinson’s jury trial, McGowan argued that Robinson and co-defendant Dustin Walker kicked in the door to Roberts’ Cedarwood Apartments duplex around 3 a.m. in an attempt to steal marijuana and money from Roberts, who was known to sell marijuana from his bedroom. McGowan alleged that Walker shot Roberts, but because Robinson was involved in the inherently dangerous felony that led to Roberts’ death, he was charged with felony first-degree murder.

Roberts’ son, Michael Neis-Roberts, 17, testified that he saw two men burst through his front door, go to Roberts’ room and say: “Where is it?” Neis-Roberts said he then heard his father say, “I don’t know what you are talking about,” and a gun went off.

Neis-Roberts said that’s when his uncle, Roberts’ brother Wayne, came into the room, tackled Walker, who had the gun, and struggled briefly with him until the two intruders ran away. Neis-Roberts said his uncle saw a third man outside run away with the two intruders.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said after the conviction that the Roberts’ family’s presence during the murder “contributed to the tragic nature of the event.”

Robinson’s shoe, Walker’s hat and the gun, which belonged to Walker’s girlfriend, were found at the crime scene, detectives said. Police testified that they found Robinson and Walker running near the Roberts’ home in bloodstained clothing shortly after the shooting. Robinson was not wearing shoes.

Robinson’s attorney, Branden Smith, suggested at the trial that perhaps Robinson was the third man outside. Smith said there was no evidence to suggest that Robinson broke into the home with Walker that morning.

According to court records, Robinson has an extensive criminal history in Douglas County, including various drug convictions and a juvenile burglary charge stemming back to 2002. He remains in the Douglas County Jail until he can be transferred to a correctional facility.

If Robinson is released from prison, he will be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years, said Cheryl Wright Kunard, assistant to the district attorney.

Co-defendant Walker was found guilty in February of aggravated burglary, but his jury could not agree on his first-degree murder charge. His second jury trial for the first-degree murder charge is set to begin May 4. It is scheduled to last five days.