By the News-Times team
YORK – Prosper Gilpin, 20, one of four former York College students charged with beating a man, stealing his property and breaking into several vehicles in York, was back in front of the court this week on allegations that he violated the terms of his probation.
The current Winnebago resident was previously sentenced in York County District Court to probation on the amended charges of criminal mischief and theft.
He was originally charged with the following:
• Robbery, a class 2 crime
• Conspiracy to commit a class 2 felony, a class 2 felony
• Criminal possession of multiple financial transaction devices, a class 4 felony
• Third degree assault, a class 1 misdemeanor
• Identity theft, a class 1 offense
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The case began when the York Police Department was sent to 6 Arbor Court in reference to an assault that took place on the college campus, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in York County Court.
The victim told police he was walking around listening to music at around 5 a.m. and was in the prayer chapel area of the college when “someone grabbed him from behind and pushed him to the ground. Two individuals punched and kicked him while he was on the ground. He tried to fight back but couldn’t. He suffered superficial abrasions to both knees. He said the punches and kicks caused him pain. The two individuals began to search his pockets but there was nothing in them. The individuals took the hat he was wearing, which was then on the ground, and fled.
“The victim said there were four people in the group. Only two assaulted him and forcibly deprived him of his property,” the officer’s report read. “He was able to provide descriptions of the individuals. He said he recognized the four as York College students while working in the cafeteria and had seen them before.
At 5:52 a.m., police were dispatched to the 600 block of N. Iowa Ave., following a report of an attempted vehicle break-in. Officers were told the people fled the scene after the investigator’s car alarm went off. Officers were told the suspects fled in a darker colored ‘sports’ car. The reporting party stated that the vehicle was occupied by more than one person.
At 6 a.m., a police department sergeant located a gray Infiniti G35 driving in the area of 11th Street and North Nebraska Avenue. A traffic stop has been initiated due to a traffic violation.
Another officer arrived and observed that the previous victim’s description of the four men matched the description of the occupants of the vehicle.
Officers also saw a number of Nebraska vehicle registrations throughout the vehicle, “which was odd because the vehicle had California license plates.” The four occupants were asked to get out of the vehicle.
The driver was identified as Robbie Lovejoy Jr., the officer says in the affidavit filed with the court. “The front passenger has been identified as Fernando Servin Jr. The rear driver side passenger has been identified as Isaiah Hernandez-Jasso. And the rear passenger on the passenger side has been identified as Prosper Gilpin.
It should be noted that the victim immediately identified his attackers, thanks to a queue at the wheel. He also identified Jasso and Servin as the men who assaulted him, the affidavit states.
Servin and Jasso were arrested for theft and assault. “Lovejoy later told officers he saw Fernando and Jasso assaulting (the man) and taking his hat. He said he didn’t know why. He also said he was driving them just to that Fernando and Jasso could steal items from vehicles.He said he and Gilpin stayed in the car the whole time the group was driving around York.
The affidavit says Lovejoy did not have an operator’s license, Gilpin was under the influence of alcohol and the other two were arrested – for which reason a tow truck was called. “The wind made it almost impossible to find tow inventory as papers were flying out the door.” The vehicle was taken to a covered room where it was searched. “During the search, officers found items belonging to 16 victims. Most were vehicle registrations, insurance cards and various vehicle-related documents. Specifically, officers found a woman’s wallet containing her driver’s license, a bank-issued checkbook and several bank cards. Officers also located another bank card issued in the name of a man.
Gilpin was sentenced to two years of traditional probation. A court hearing has been set for the near future, regarding his admission or denial of the new allegations.