Lynn man sentenced up to four years in bar theft

SALEM – A 30-year-old mason who admitted stealing more than $400 from a Lynn bar on Lewis Street last winter may serve up to four years in state prison before being placed on probation.Alexander John Soledade, 30, of 11 Argyle St., #1, Everett, changed his plea of innocent to guilty Wednesday afternoon to charges of unarmed robbery and assault and battery before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.He was sentenced to serve not less than two and one-half years and not more than four years in state prison to be followed by two years of probation at which time he must remain alcohol free, refrain from all non-prescribed substances, be evaluated for drug and mental health treatment and counseling as deemed appropriate and consent to random screenings.”This is a process you do not want to continue,” Feeley said as he reviewed Soledade’s past record dating back to when he began his criminal career as a juvenile, then served state time and was also violated on probationary terms on sentences imposed for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and unarmed burglary.”I think you should be given one more chance for probation and your best efforts need to focus every day on the compliance conditions,” Feeley told Soledade as he handed down the penalty.The charges arise out of an incident just before 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 when he walked into JD’s Sports Bar, located at 159 Lewis St., and scooped up $400-plus from the register while the bartender was at the other end of the bar.Three patrons in the establishment saw him grab the money from the till and tried to stop Soledade.In addition, a 56-year-old female patron tried to intercede by blocking the front door and was knocked to the ground as Soledade fled out the door and jumped into a silver colored 2011 Ford Focus with Virginia license plates and sped away.Witnesses were able to provide police with the license plate and vehicle description of the getaway car, which was then broadcast to other local authorities.Soledade was stopped a few minutes later by Salem Police on Surrey Road, where witnesses from the bar identified him as the robber.A bag containing $438 in cash and change was found inside the car, police said.The Ford he was riding in was rented by his girlfriend from Enterprise Rent-A-Car with only her name on the agreement, according to reports.Assistant District Attorney Jean M. Curran asked for a harsher punishment of four to five years with no probation, pointing out that Soledade had a history of violating the terms of probation.Defense lawyer Thomas Pierce asked Feeley to impose the sentence suggested earlier during a lobby, which he did.The judge credited Soledade the 42 days he has spent in jail awaiting trial on the case.