Man Gets 16 Years For Robbery Of Plainfield Check Cashing Store: Prosecutor

Plainfield, NJ - A Union County man was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for his involvement in a robbery at a check cashing store, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.

Thomas H. Outland, 48, of Plainfield will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before the possibility of parole, according to terms set by state Superior Court Judge Scott J. Moynihan.

Outland had been previously convicted on charges of second-degree robbery and second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery following a two-week trial in May.

The incident occurred on April 30. Outland worked in a separate business inside the same building as the Friendly Check Cashing store on the 400 block of Madison Avenue in Plainfield and was an acquaintance of the victim.

He brought her coffee that day in order to lure her out of the secure teller area so that he and two others, who remain unidentified, could overpower and assault the lone cashier, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutors Armando Suarez and Michael D’Agostino, who prosecuted the case.

After gaining access to the store’s safe, Outland and the two others made off with approximately $35,000 in cash, Suarez and D’Agostino said.

The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of significant head and facial injuries.

Outland was sentenced to an extended term due to his prior felony convictions.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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