COLUMBIA, Pa. — A Lancaster County man will serve up to seven years in state prison after being convicted of trying to steal a running car in 2022, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Aryton Miller, 28, of Columbia, was found guilty in December 2023 of attempted robbery of a motor vehicle and attempted theft, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
He was sentenced to a prison term of 2-7 years by Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright at a hearing on Monday.
According to evidence presented at trial, on May 6, 2022, at around 11:25 a.m., Columbia Borough Police responded to the 400 block of Cherry Street for a reported vehicle theft in progress.
Witnesses reported Miller approached the car from behind while the victim and her family were unloading the vehicle. He opened the driver’s side door and entered the vehicle without permission while wearing rubber gloves.
One of the victims attempted to open the door and Sherman pulled the door shut, witnesses reported.
“This crime happened in broad daylight when a woman and her daughter should be safe,” prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller said during the proceeding. “He ruined this family’s sense of security forever.”
Miller eventually exited the vehicle and was detained by the victim’s husband until police arrived.
Defense counsel and Miller stated during the sentencing hearing he was on under the influence of drugs during the crime and asked for a mitigated sentence as the defendant was currently undergoing treatment.
Miller pointed to the defendant’s lack of remorse while testifying during trial and his prior record as reasons to give an aggravated-range sentence.
“You have a guy who has graduated from using drugs to selling drugs to now preying on the innocent citizens of Lancaster County,” Miller said.
Wright gave a sentence at the higher end of the legal guidelines for the convictions.
“Part of recovery is making amends for what you did during your addiction,” Wright said.
