TWO MEN WERE SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON EARLIER THIS MONTH IN CONNECTION WITH A ROBBERY ATTEMPT GONE WRONG AT THE VENICE T J MAXX STORE. 23 YEAR OLD JAMES ROGERS AND 20 YEAR OLD JOSHUA ROSE WERE REPORTEDLY LIVING WITH A THIRD EMPLOYEE, 20 YEAR OLD MATTHEW GRAFFIN, WHEN THEY DECIDED TO ROB THE STORE INSTEAD OF GETTING SECOND JOBS OR ASKING RELATIVES FOR LOANS. GRAFFIN WAS SEEN AS A VICTIM AT FIRST, BUT HE EVENTUALLY TOLD AUTHORITIES OF THE PLOT AND STRUCK A DEAL TO TESTIFY AGAINST THE OTHER TWO. GRAFFIN WAS GIVEN A ONE-YEAR JAIL TERM FOR HIS COOPERATION. AUTHORITIES WERE HELD AT BAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER AN ALARM WAS TRIPPED BY AN ESCAPING EMPLOYEE, BUT THE TWO MEN HAD ESCAPED OUT OF THE BACK DOOR. WHEN AUTHORITIES STORMED THE STORE, ONLY FRIGHTENED EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS WERE INSIDE. THE THREE MEN WERE PICKED UP AT THEIR HOME A WEEK LATER.
