By Lisa Pett

Kenneth Groholski has been sentenced to 13 years–with eight years of initial confinement followed by five years extended supervision–for a trio of gas station robberies in Stevens Point in 2014.

Groholski, 30, pleaded no contest to two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery on July 22. He robbed the Southside BP gas station on Church St. twice–on July 21, 2014 and August 11, 2014. He also attempted to rob the Westside Mobile on West Clark St. on August 11, 2014 but was chased out of the store by a clerk wielding a baseball bat.

Groholski, who is currently serving a prison sentence that ends in 2019, will serve the new sentences concurrently. He will be released from custody in 2023 and then serve five more years under close community supervision.

Assistant District Attorney David Knaapen requested the maximum sentence of 15 years on the two robbery counts due to Groholski’s long criminal history and the seriousness of the crime.

Defense attorney Erik McFarland requested a lesser sentence of 12 years based on Groholski’s issues with drugs and alcohol, as well as a troubled life spent in foster care and his early contact with the juvenile justice system.

Judge Robert Shannon called the situation “a horrible waste”.

“Mr. Groholski has had many opportunities to be supervised within the community and failed most, if not all, of them,” he said, before handing down the sentence.

Goholski made a brief statement apologizing to the businesses he victimized due to his drug habit.

When he is released, as part of his extended supervision, Goholski is ordered to abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs and to have no contact with the Southside BP and the Westside Mobile stations for the duration of his supervision.

Shannon also ordered him to comply with any and all counseling recommended by his probation agent and to pay $350 in restitution, as well as court costs.