ROGERSVILLE — A robbery accomplice of convicted child killer Amber Beth Gibson was sentenced to 20 years Monday after pleading to a charge related to the 2010 beating and robbery of an elderly Rogersville man.
Robert “Brian” Hodge, 34, 3087 Route 66-S, Rogersville, entered an Alford plea to one count of facilitation of especially aggravated robbery Monday before Judge John Dugger, although there was a moment when it appeared Hodge was toying with the idea of a jury trial.
Guilty/Alford pleas last about 10 minutes as the judge asks the defendant a number of questions. Toward the end of Hodge’s plea he began to waver.
His attorney, Daniel Boyd, told the judge Hodge was having trouble agreeing to the 20 year sentence. Because of Hodge’s previous two felony convictions for manufacturing meth in 2004 and 2007, the 20 year sentence must be served with a minimum 35 percent release eligibility.
Hodge was originally charged with especially aggravated robbery in connection with the June 8, 2010, beating and robbery of retired Rogersville service station owner John D. McBride.
Dugger informed Hodge that due to his two previous felony convictions his sentencing range for especially aggravated robbery, a Class A felony, would be 25-40 years at 100 percent.
After a short recess in which Hodge consulted with Boyd, he accepted the 20-year sentence at 35 percent and completed the Alford plea to facilitation of especially aggravated robbery, a Class B felony.
In an Alford plea the defendant doesn’t admit guilt, but does agree that there’s a probability they would be convicted by a jury and the plea is in their best interest.
The two other defendants in that case, Michael Darren Knight, 24, and Gibson, 25, have already been sentenced. Both received sentences of 15 years at 100 percent and Gibson’s sentence was consecutive to an additional 59 years related to another robbery and the 2011 murder of 3-year-old Emily Madison Barnard.
Police said that although Knight and Gibson perpetrated the actual robbery, the robbery was planned by Hodge who urged on the other two when Knight initially lost his nerve.
Knight and Gibson allegedly approached McBride under the pretense of buying a tire, and police say Gibson struck McBride in the head with a tire iron. Hodge was in the getaway car while the robbery took place. Later they bought drugs with the loot and Hodge, Gibson and Knight went their separate ways.
Knight was arrested driving the getaway car later that day, and a bloody tire iron was recovered from the vehicle. For a time afte rhis arrest, however, Knight refused to name any accomplices. Hodge and Gibson were immediately suspects, but weren’t charged until Knight agreed to testify against them nearly a year after the robbery.
Hodge was also ordered Monday to pay $100 restitution to McBride, which is his share of the $300 that was stolen.