SMETHPORT — The large courtroom at the McKean County Courthouse was still as Dennis Fuino described the violence he has experienced in his life.
Fuino, 58, was sentenced Thursday in McKean County Court to a term of 10 to 20 years in state prison for a charge of robbery by threat of immediate serious injury, a first-degree felony. He also entered a guilty plea on Thursday to a first-degree misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property.
When Fuino pleaded guilty in the robbery case on Dec. 14, District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer stated the allegations he was being convicted of, saying that on Sept. 30, Fuino brandished a knife while wearing a mask and demanding money from the Choice store in Bradford, putting the victim in fear of immediate serious bodily injury.
“I’m not a violent man by nature,” said Fuino prior to receiving the robbery sentence from President Judge John Pavlock.
Fuino went on to outline the violence he saw — and experienced firsthand — throughout his life.
“Ok,” Fuino started. “When I was 13 years old I skipped school.”
He was sent to a boys school for 18 months as punishment, and while he was there, he was molested, he related.
“At 19, I watched a man get shot in the back four times,” Fuino continued. “I couldn’t save him.” He described watching the shooter threatening someone else, and said, “I murdered him.”
So at 19 years old, Fuino received a lifetime sentence for the man’s death.
In prison, “Every day I fought for my life,” he said. “Every day I fought for my manhood.”
The sentence was eventually overturned and he was released, but at that point, “I was an animal,” he said.
He recalled watching other violent acts during his life while he was in and out of prison, such as watching friends murdered in front of him as he stood only feet away.
Then, on Valentine’s Day of 2000, “I was stabbed in the back five times.” The doctor at the time told Fuino he was lucky where the stab wounds landed, but Fuino stated, “There’s days I wish (the assailant) hadn’t missed.”
Fuino indicated he was in the process of getting his life back in order when he committed the robbery. He said he had been sober for five years and was a business owner for two.
Then, he “partied” with friends during a celebration one weekend — and awoke the next morning to learn he committed robbery.
“I don’t even remember it, but I looked at the tape, and that was me,” he said.
And Fuino said he has no idea why he did it.
“I had food in my cupboard, gas in my car and work,” he said.
Fuino referred to his experience with state parole boards and said, “This is a life sentence for me, and I admitted my guilt and I’ll accept my punishment like a man. I don’t like it, but I accept it.”
Pavlock thanked Fuino for sharing his story “so we have some understanding” of what brought his life to the present point, but he indicated that Fuino could be dangerous at unpredictable times.
“There’s a lot that you’ve experienced in your history, and I’m not downplaying that,” Pavlock said, but he continued, saying “You may not remember” — but the robbery victim will never forget.
Fuino’s criminal history indicates he is a danger, too, said Pavlock, who added, “There’s just too many prior victims.”
Shaffer said she spoke to the victim, who “stressed that she did want the defendant to get treatment for any problems he might have.”
Pavlock ordered that Fuino undergo a mental health evaluation and drug and alcohol evaluation, and Fuino is to have no contact with the victim or be on Choice property.
In the receiving stolen property case, Shaffer said that between May 30 and June 9, Fuino received about 68 Zippo lighters valued at $1,953.57.
Fuino is being offered a one- to two-year term in state prison for the charge, to be served concurrent to — or at the same time as — the robbery sentence, said Shaffer. She added that he owes $1,383.57 in restitution, too.
Fuino will be sentenced Jan. 4 for the receiving stolen property case.
He is represented by Public Defender Philip Clabaugh.
