By Jeanne Sager
MONTICELLO — April 14, 2006 – The second time Tyrese Hilliard faced Judge Frank LaBuda on murder charges, he earned a stiffer sentence.
The 23-year-old was sent to jail in June 2002 for 25 years to life, convicted of murdering Arthur Hayes Jr. in a drug deal gone wrong.
Hayes, 22, showed up on a Mountaindale basketball court looking to score some marijuana.
He was assaulted on the court by Hilliard and three accomplices, Sheldon Wells, Quintin Lawrence and Robert Dawson.
A gunshot ended Hayes’ life, and the four men were soon caught.
Wells pled guilty in 2002 to second-degree murder, Lawrence and Dawson to 1st-degree robbery.
But Hilliard’s conviction was overturned on appeal, sending him back to court this year.
Tuesday, LaBuda handed down a total sentence of 41 1/3 years to life in prison for Hilliard.
The sentence for the first count, murder in the second degree, is 25 years to life to run consecutive with a sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years for a violation of parole.
He also earned sentences for three counts of robbery in the 1st degree, and one count each of criminal use of a firearm in the 1st degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd degree and conspiracy in the 4th degree.