A 19-year-old man who pleaded guilty to his part in a fatal robbery incident in 2020 in Polk Township was sentenced to 38½ to 77 years in prison Thursday by Monroe County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jonathan Mark.

Anthony Mitchell will spend the next three-plus decades behind bars for the killing of 15-year-old Aiden David Paiz, wounding of a 17-year-old boy and aggravated a 14-year-old boy.

On Oct. 28, 2021, he pleaded guilty to murder in the third degree, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and three counts of robbery.

The incident happened on Nov. 22, 2020, when Mitchell and two others, co-defendants, Michael Demuro-Correll, 15, and Justin Lemont, 18, operated a sham arranged on Snapchat in which they lured the victims to Squirrelwood Road and Sunset Lane in Polk Township for what the victims believed was to be a marijuana transaction sale.

Officials said when the victims arrived at the location for the sale of marijuana to “Mikey” for $120, Mitchell, armed with an AR-15 rifle, approached the passenger side window, while Demuro-Correll, armed with a 9 mm handgun approached the driver side window, asked to see the marijuana before buying it.

Police said after Driscoll handed the marijuana to him, Demuro-Correll pulled out the handgun and pointed it at him. Mitchell fired the AR-15, shattering the passenger window, and Demuro-Correll allegedly fired multiple rounds directly into the car from the driver side.

Authorities said Paiz was killed; Driscoll suffered serious injuries; and Arce escaped injury.

During Thursday’s sentencing proceedings, First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso highlighted the extensive prior record of the defendant, which began in juvenile court. He told Judge Mark these episodes include a prior threat to shoot up Pleasant Valley High School; threats to kill a family of a girl he knew; a violent assault with a knife against his sister; an armed robbery committed in Northampton County; and another robbery attempt occurring two weeks before the fatal robbery, where the defendant shot at but missed his victim.

Mancuso described the defendant’s conduct and the crimes as “ridiculous, unnecessary and demonstrating an extreme devaluation of human life.”

Also addressing the court virtually prior to the sentence were numerous family members, including Paiz’s mother and brother, some who described to the judge the effect the murder had on them. Aiden’s grandfather and uncle attended in person and described the impact of Paiz’s death on their lives. Many of the family of all three victims previously wrote impact statements which were all read by the judge.

Mitchell declined to speak at the sentencing, but his attorney asked for leniency, citing his age and acceptance of responsibility.

The remaining defendants are still involved in pretrial proceedings. Assistant District Attorney Dave Marra noted a hearing is scheduled on March 4 in the case of Demuro-Correll.

Judge Mark is expected to rule on a defense motion to have the charges transferred to juvenile court. If that request is denied, trial in both his case and that of Lemont is expected to take place in November.