First ‘Dougherty Gang’ Sibling Sentenced to 32 Years
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ABC News(DENVER) — Dylan Dougherty, one of three “Dougherty gang” siblings who went on a multi-state crime spree, received a 32-year prison sentence in Colorado on Monday though the trio still has more charges to answer for in another jurisdiction.
Dougherty, 27, was given the maximum sentence for pleading guilty to one count of first-degree assault, according to ABC News’ Denver affiliate KMGH. The siblings’ crimes included a Colorado shootout with police and a daring bank robbery in Georgia.
“Contrary to a lot of people’s beliefs, I never intended to…I never tried to…I never wanted to hurt anybody,” an emotional Dylan Dougherty told the Huerfano County Courthouse judge.
“It is true that I acted out of desperation and I am sorry for the choices that I made,” he said through tears. “I don’t know really what things differently I would have done, but I truly am sorry to anyone who was involved.”
He apologized to police and any bystanders who could potentially have been hurt and said that his actions were “not to my character.”
Dylan Dougherty’s half-siblings Ryan Dougherty, 22, and Lee Grace E. Dougherty, 29, are expected to be sentenced later Monday.
Officials in Georgia are waiting for the siblings to be extradited for charges related to the bank robbery. After all three are sentenced in Colorado, they are expected to be transported to Albany, Ga., by the U.S. Marshals Service for a hearing May 15.
The three were allegedly driving as fast as 100 miles per hour on Aug. 2 when a Zephyrhills, Fla., police officer attempted to pull them over. They fired 20 shots at the officer and escaped when one of the bullets hit the police car’s tire. The officer was not injured. Later that day, the Dougherty gang allegedly robbed a Valdosta, Ga., bank while wearing masks and firing rounds from an AK-47 at the ceiling.
Police caught up with the siblings Aug. 10, 2011 in Colorado after a tip they were spotted buying camping equipment. After a 20-mile chase down the interstate, the pursuit culminated in the Doughertys’ car flipping over and landing on top of a guard rail.
The siblings share a lengthy criminal history that includes 20 felonies among them, notwithstanding the additional 70 charges they racked up from their crime spree. Their previous charges range from drug possession to battery and burglary.
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