Crime & Safety

Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Greenwich Motel Robbery

Paulino T. Bonds was previously incarcerated for aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm.

A Clementon man has been sentenced to seven years in state prison after pleading guilty in the robbery of a man and a woman at a Greenwich motel, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office announced on Thursday.

The robbery assault included a sexual assault of the woman.

Paulino T. Bonds, 27, pleaded guilty to participation in the robbery along with three other people on June 5. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Co-defendants D'Neill J. Battle, 25, of Mantua, and Kayla J. Miler, 21, of Williamstown, have both pleaded guilty to the robbery with Bonds and are awaiting sentencing.    

Co-defendant Terrell D. Garvin, 28, of Clementon, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault is awaiting sentencing.  

The robbery took place on Aug. 30, 2012, less than a year after Bonds was released from prison on an aggravated assault. Bonds also had a prior conviction for illegal possession of a firearm.

Superior Court Judge Kevin T. Smith called Bonds's actions  “indicative of recidivism.”

Smith also questioned Bonds and his lawyer about a tattoo on the defendant, specifically “Philly 215,”  which the judge said can indicate affiliation with a motorcycle gang. 

Find out what's happening in West Deptfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The tattoo was of concern to the judge because a co-defendant also had a tattoo “that suggests possible affiliation with the Bloods,” the judge said.

The body markings on co-defendants and Bonds’ reluctance to provide employment and family history information to a probation officer for his presentence report “make me uncomfortable,”  Smith said.

Find out what's happening in West Deptfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bonds said he was unaware of the motorcycle gang symbolism of his tattoo and his lawyer said his reticence in providing information was because of “fear of retaliation, not only against him, but his family.”

When asked by the judge whether he had any comment about the robbery incident, Bonds said his goal was to “get back home”  because he felt a kidney ailment has been aggravated during his incarceration since his arrest in October of 2012.

Bonds's lawyer said his client had expressed concern for the victims throughout the trial.






Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.