Grohs gets

Grohs gets

six months

in break-in

Thomas Henry Grohs, 18, Rt. 643, Amissville, was sentenced Monday to six months in jail for his part in the breaking and entering of Mrs. Charles Compton’s house in Amissville this past F ebruary.

Grohs pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering and grand larceny on July 3. He has cooperated with the investigation of the incident and testified as a witness for the Commonwealth in the proceedings against several co-defendents.

Judge W. Shore Robertson sentenced Grohs to six years incarceration with the Virginia Department of Corrections for the breaking and entering charge and five years imprisonment on the grand larceny conviction, the sentences to run concurrently. Judge Robertson then suspended all but six months of the sentences, to be served in the Rappahannock County jail.

The judge also ordered that Grohs be placed on supervised probation for a period of three years following his release. Restitution to the victim in the amount of $77.50 was also ordered by the court.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Robertson noted the “horrible nature of the crime ... a woman living alone in her elderly years. Your plea shows your guilt and culpability in these crimes.”

Saying that “The court cannot excuse your conduct,” the judge declined to accept Grohs’ attorney’s and the pre-sentencing report’s recommendation of probation.

In suspending the bulk of the sentence, however, the judge did note Grohs’ “cooperation with the law enforcement agencies, and (his) assistance to the victim” on the night of the crime. “The court finds you a proper subject for rehabilitation,” he added.

During the break-in, Grohs did not actually enter the house, instead waiting outside with the car. His companions (Richard Eastham, Charles and Susan Larimer) were frightened by Mrs. Compton, who awoke and screamed, causing them

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