ALFRED — A 26-year-old Sanford man will spend 28 months in state prison for holding up Eastside Convenience Store armed with a handgun in October.

Matthew Prior pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday by York County Superior Court Justice John O’Neil to eight years, with all but 28 months suspended, for the Class A felony robbery. He must also serve three years’ probation upon his release, and is to pay $431 in restitution.

Jenna Gray, 24, also of Sanford, entered a guilty plea in April to hindering Prior’s apprehension and was sentenced to three years in prison, with all but five months suspended. She is to serve two years probation upon her release. Gray was Prior’s girlfriend at the time of the robbery.

A third person alleged to have been involved n the case – Donna Gray, the mother of Jenna Gray, and a former Sanford city employee also faces hindering apprehension charge. A dispositional conference in connection with that charge is scheduled for June 15.

By pleading guilty, Prior admitted to robbing the store on High Street around 4 p.m. ference in connection with that charge is scheduled for June 15.

By pleading guilty, Prior admitted to robbing the store on High Street around 4 p.m. Oct. 11. He was disguised with an orange knit hat pulled down over his head, with cutouts so he could see.

There were numerous witnesses to the robbery itself, as well as Prior’s exit from the store. He was reportedly hit by a car chasing him through Carpentier Park before getting into a white sedan that was parked on North Avenue that police say was driven by Donna Gray.

Prior was later treated for an injury to his leg at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New Hampshire, about 15 miles from Sanford.

Jenna Gray’s mother, Donna Gray, 57, who at the time of the robbery was a longtime Sanford Public Works employee but later resigned her position following her arrest, was indicted by a grand jury in March on a Class C felony hindering apprehension charge. The two women had originally been charged with robbery.

In an interview with police in the days following the crime, Donna Gray allegedly told police she believed Prior was injured at his job, and that she drove him to the hospital for treatment in the early morning hours of Oct. 12.

She allegedly claimed that she hadn’t driven in the area of Eastside Convenience on the day of the robbery but later, according to a police affidavit, said she had been on North Avenue, which is nearby.

According to the affidavit, Jenna Gray told police she hadn’t been in the area of the convenience store that day.

Prior told police he was driven to the crime scene by someone whose name he did not disclose, telling them he wanted to visit a friend. He told police the driver didn’t know he was planning a robbery, and that he had a heroin addiction, according to the affidavit.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].