PORTLAND — A Maine man who was stripped of his right to a court-appointed lawyer for his robbery trial was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in jail.
Joshua Nisbet, 37, of Scarborough, was given a 14-year sentence, half of which will be suspended.
Justice Thomas Warren ruled in March that Nisbet “forfeited” his right to a lawyer after he went through five court-appointed attorneys while awaiting trial. All five had asked to be removed from the case, and one cited a threat that Nisbet denied making.
Warren said during sentencing that Nisbet showed during the trial that he is “capable of being a hard worker” and that handing out the penalty was difficult.
“We saw a very different Mr. Nisbet at trial,” Warren said. “It showed a significant rehabilitative potential.”
Nisbet, who has no legal training, handled his own defense while two standby attorneys assigned by the court assisted him without addressing the jurors.
The two attorneys, Luke Rioux and Mark Peltier, represented Nisbet at Tuesday’s sentencing. They said they believed Nisbet’s sentence was fair, as did Nisbet’s family and friends in attendance. The attorneys said Nisbet will likely appeal.
Nisbet, who may be the first criminal defendant in Maine to lose the right to a court-appointed attorney after qualifying for one based on his economic need, said during the sentencing hearing that he was prepared for whatever he got.
“I’m here, I’m going to take my medicine, whatever you give me. Head up, chest out,” he said.
Prosecutors sought a 20-year sentence, citing Nisbet’s long criminal history and the emotional toll of the robbery on a store clerk. Assistant District Attorney Bud Ellis said Nisbet’s behavior, which included him accusing South Portland police of treating him unfairly, was a distraction during the trial.
“He’s entitled to a trial. He’s not entitled to make ridiculous accusations that have no basis in fact,” Ellis said.
Nisbet was convicted earlier this month of robbing a South Portland convenience store at knifepoint. The judge also ordered him not to return to the store.
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