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Teen acquitted of armed robbery against lawmaker

Teen acquitted of armed robbery against lawmaker

One of two teenagers accused of attempting to rob state Sen. Tim Solobay in Harrisburg last fall was acquitted Wednesday by a Dauphin County Common Pleas Court jury.

The jury deliberated for about an hour before deciding it didn't have enough evidence to convict Thomas Evans, 16, of Harrisburg, on charges of armed robbery and conspiracy. The youth was accused of being among four teenagers who attacked the Washington County Democrat in late September 2010.

Mr. Solobay told police he was walking to his car along a residential block when one of the four individuals in dark, hooded sweatshirts and masks demanded his money. He shoved two of them and then got into his vehicle. When one of the teens pointed a gun through his vehicle's window, the volunteer fire chief flipped on the car's lights and siren.

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Mr. Evans was arrested a half-hour later, about 10 blocks away from the incident. Mr. Evans' attorney questioned how Mr. Solobay was able to identify the young man. The deputy district attorney showed jurors a white handkerchief found on the other teen detained by officers, as well as a black bandanna found nearby matching the senator's description of the attackers' masks.

The other youth arrested in the attack, 16-year-old Sharief Hand, also of Harrisburg, is scheduled for trial Oct. 3.

First Published: September 1, 2011, 4:00 a.m.

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