Dauphin County Judge Andrew H. Dowling sentenced David E. Brown, 36, formerly of 412 E. Ross Street, Lancaster, to 25 years to 50 years in state prison.  Brown, who was convicted for on September 16, 2014, of a violent home invasion robbery.  The robbery took place at the Clifton Heights Apartments in Derry Township on July 3, 2012.  Brown was convicted of robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, persons not to possess a firearm and theft by unlawful taking.  The 25 to 50 year sentence Brown received was the result of a mandatory sentence under Pennsylvania's Three Strikes Law.  This conviction constituted Brown's third strike under the law.  Brown was previously convicted in 2009 of a home invasion burglary and a 1997 robbery in Lancaster County.    

The victim testified at trial that he was getting his 4 year old child ready for bed when Brown entered his home with a shotgun, accompanied by another unidentified male brandishing a handgun.  A struggle ensued and Brown strangled and severely beat the victim.  During the course of the struggle, Brown threatened to kill the victim's child, who was crying as he was hiding under sheets while his father was being assaulted in the room.  Brown and the other assailant fled the residence with a safe that contained cash and narcotics.

The case was investigated by Det. Matthew Dotts and Sgt. Greg Day of the Derry Township Police with the assistance of Agent William O'Connell of the PA Attorney Generals Office.  The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle.