GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The man who pushed an 85-year-old woman to the ground and stole her purse, getting away with $8, was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison.
Nathan Gay, 30, was previously convicted of robbery with use of force for the June 2019 incident. He also was convicted of possession of narcotic drugs for a separate offense in 2021.
Gay was also placed on extended supervision for four years. A jail sentence on the drug offense will be served concurrently. Gay also must write a letter of apology to the victim, said Judge John Zakowski.
Assistant District Attorney John Luetscher noted the pre-sentence report called for probation, but argued prison time was warranted because the public abhors crimes of violence against the elderly.
Defense attorney Jennifer Kelley said Gay is not a career criminal, but someone who has struggled with addiction.
Before the sentence was issued, Gay noted he has been getting treatment for his addiction issues because he wants to be there for his children.
“My kids are young. I want to be in their lives. And I want to be ‘me’ in their lives. I don’t want that person to come back, and I know the steps that I need to take to make sure that person doesn’t come back – and that’s rehabilitation,” Gay said.
Judge Zakowski called it a “terrible crime.” Gay has had some successes but since nothing else has worked to get him clean, prison is warranted to get him additional treatment, he said.
“The seriousness of the offense, this kind of offense, I think, probably leans towards prison. The protection of the public, as well. The character of Nathan would say “no.” What the court would like to do would say “no,” but for rehabilitation purposes I think probation just isn’t feasible. It didn’t work,” Zakowski said.
The victim did not comment at the hearing but had written a letter to the court before the hearing. She offered forgiveness, both Gay and Zakowski said.
The grocery store incident happened June 7, 2019, in Ledgeview.
The victim walking in a grocery store parking lot when he allegedly pushed her to the ground and stole her purse. She said it had $8 inside. An officer recognized Gay from store security footage. After repeated denials, Gay admitted to the robbery, and apologized, the criminal complaint states.
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