A Natrona County District Judge sentenced a Casper man on Thursday to 10 to 16 years in prison for his participation in a series of armed robberies last fall.

In May, Aren Patrick Cobia pleaded guilty to three charges of armed robbery against two convenience stores and one pawn shop.

The Red Eagle Stores night clerk, who was assaulted by Cobia and two other men, spoke at the sentencing.

"I'm a person, and I have a family," the clerk said.

During Cobia's sentencing, the clerk looked at the 21-year-old and said she doesn't hold "ill feelings" toward the man, but wants him to think about his crime and its possible implications.

Cobia's public defender, Rob Oldham, asked Park for a boot camp sentence, saying Cobia was on drugs and needed a chance to do something with his life.

Park said he considered boot camp but since Cobia also faces an eight-to -15-year concurrent sentence in Albany County for a similar robbery, he didn't think it would work.

Boot camp, he said, would simply transition Cobia into prison, instead of out of prison the way it was intended.

Cobia told the judge he has "no excuses" for his crimes. He turned to apologize to the victim in the court room and apologized to Casper.

Cobia and two other men - 20-year-old Skylor Eberhardt and 19-year-old Kasey Conrad Miller - were charged in November.

Miller and Eberhardt admitted to three Casper convenience store robberies as well as the pawn shop attempted robbery.

A Natrona County District Court judge sentenced Miller to 12-to- 20 years for his participation in the robberies and an Albany County judge sentenced him to six-to 12 years for the Laramie holdup. Both of the sentences are to be served concurrently.

Eberhardt has not yet been sentenced.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com