photo by: Chris Conde/ Journal-World

The Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center is pictured in September 2018.

Kaspar A. Engelberg had “made positive strides,” including obtaining his GED, since several past run-ins with the law, his attorney said.

But he got into trouble again — this time with more severe charges — and now, the 20-year-old Lawrence man is going to prison for the next eight-plus years.

On Wednesday in Douglas County District Court, Judge Paula Martin sentenced Engelberg to 100 months in prison for two new felony convictions, aggravated robbery and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. She ordered three years of postrelease supervision.

photo by: Kansas Bureau of Investigation

Kaspar A. Engelberg

Engelberg also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

In October, Engelberg pleaded no contest to one count each of aggravated robbery and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. In exchange for his plea, seven other charges in three cases filed in 2018 were dropped.

Engelberg had a “dating relationship” with a 15-year-old girl, and he and that girl conspired to rob another teen in July, prosecutor Eve Kemple said.

Engelberg hid in the backseat of a car, pointed what the victim believed was a gun at him and took the victim’s cell phone, Kemple said. She said police recovered the phone in Engelberg’s possession, though they did not find a gun.

Engelberg has limited family support, as most of his relatives live in California and he’s largely been raised by grandparents who are now aging and have some health problems, his attorney Courtney Henderson said. Henderson said Engelberg is now looking into possible careers that he could pursue after his release from prison, noting that he’s interested in design and possibly welding.

Engelberg told the judge he was sorry for his actions.

“I would just like to apologize for everything that’s happened,” he said. “I’m truly sorry for my behavior and everything that I’ve done.”

Martin told him that she hoped he could make a future for himself after prison.

“You’re a young man,” she said. “I hope you’ll learn from this.”