Lowe's Robber Receives Light Sentence So He Can Turn Life Around

The thief who threatened to stab a Salem Lowe's employee with an allegedly tainted syringe earlier this year is turning his life around, which is why the prosecutor overseeing the case was comfortable allowing the man to get off on a reduced sentence Monday.

Victor M. Deleon, 39, of 227 Bailey St., Apt. 2, in Lawrence, Mass., pleaded guilty to felony robbery and theft charges in Rockingham Superior Court on Monday in exchange for 2-to-4-year prison sentence.

Assistant Rockingham County Attorney Brad Bolton said all but 71 days — the amount of jail time Deleon has already served — of that sentence will be deferred, though, if Deleon is able to complete the drug treatment program in which he's currently enrolled and excelling.

"When he was incarcerated, he really wanted drug treatment, so we continued the case to see if he would stick it out, and he did," said Bolton. "He's gotten through two sections of it. He's kind of turned it around."

As a part of the plea deal, Deleon's sentence will be deferred for one year, at which point a judge will determine whether the 2-to-4-year sentence should be imposed. Bolton said Deleon's sentence would be deferred for five years if he completes drug treatment.

Bolton said a "lot of these guys come and go" through the drug and criminal court systems, and that prosecutors are "never quite sure whether they're committed or not." It appears, though, that Deleon is committed, which is why Bolton said the plea deal was struck and he opted not to pursue they combined 11-to-22-year prison sentence that could've been levied against Deleon.

"This guy has done all the right things [after his arrest], so it would be nice if he straightens it out," said Bolton. "If not, he’ll go right back to prison." 

Deleon threatened to stab a Salem Lowe's employee with a syringe allegedly infected with AIDS when the employee caught him trying to steal saw blades on Feb. 5.

The Lowe's loss prevention team tried to stop Deleon from removing saw blades from the store, which is when Deleon approached them in an "aggressive and menacing manner" and pulled a hypodermic syringe from his pocket.

Deleon allegedly pointed the syringe at one of the Lowe's associates and shouted "I have AIDS" before fleeing the store. Deleon was caught the next day in Lawrence, and he was indicted on the charges.