For his part in a drug robbery near a fraternity house on High Street, a man was sentenced to home confinement Wednesday.
Jacob Matthew Corbin, 21, of Morgantown, previously pleaded guilty to first degree robbery and possession with intent to deliver. He was sentenced to serve 10 years home confinement for robbery and one to three years for the drug charge by Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Phillip Gaujot. Corbin was ordered to take a drug and alcohol assessment from day report and follow all recommendations; he will also serve 100 hours of community service.
In April 2017 Corbin was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver after telling an undercover police officer, “I got Xannies for $5.” In July 2017 Corbin and Dakota Lewis Thomas met Daniel John Ferrara inside the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house. Inside Corbin and Thomas were shown marijuana. Corbin displayed a pistol and Thomas wielded a metal rod. Corbin said he was taking the marijuana without paying and shoved it in his pants before he and Thomas fled.
In a statement to the court, Corbin said he was addicted to Xanax at the time of the incident and was taking between five and 10 milligrams of the drug a day. He told the court he’s made changes in his life, including quitting Xanax and he feels better without it. Corbin also said he’s employed full-time.
Corbin said he was “deeply sorry” to his friends, the court and his parents who will “never have to deal with this again.”
His father, Charles Corbin, thanked the court for the opportunity to speak and said when he first heard what his son did he didn’t know what to think. He said his son went down the wrong path during his time at WVU.
Stephen Fitz, prosecuting attorney, said Corbin and Thomas were both forthright with the facts of the case. He said the charges were very serious and noted Corbin tested positive for marijuana prior to sentencing.
That failed drug test and committing a crime while the first wasn’t yet resolved, led Fitz to believe Corbin required more supervision than probation and the state recommended home confinement, he said.
Gaujot said he recognized that Corbin was strung out when he committed these crimes, but that does not excuse his behavior.
His only problem after reading the presentence investigation report was the failed drug test. Corbin’s good family, young age and relatively clear criminal history were all noted as positives by Gaujot.
“With all these serious charges over your head you thought it would be ok to smoke pot,” he said.
