A man who authorities say was "added muscle" for the robbery of a New Jersey man who was set up by a stripper in Bucks County, Pa. is headed to prison for three to six years.
James Valentine Jr., 22, of Bristol Township, Pa. was the gunman in the Sept. 2016 hold-up in Bristol. He was convicted last month by a Bucks County jury of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and nine related offenses, the Bucks County District Attorney announced Tuesday.
James Valentine Valentine and a second man - James Hunt, the stripper's boyfriend who is awaiting sentencing - robbed the victim at the Green Lane Apartments after leaving Sugar & Spice in Morrisville.
A dancer at the club, Brandy Wells, targeted the victim, a young man from New Jersey, the district attorney's office said. The office declined to say where in New Jersey he lives.
Wells agreed to "hang out" with the victim after getting off work, telling him to first follow her home so that she could change clothes. Wells picked her up and the victim followed them in his BMW.
Then they stopped to pick up Valentine for "added muscle" and then to the apartments, where Hunt grabbed the victim in a bear hug and forced him to the ground. The victim testified Valentine pointed a handgun at his face.
They robbed him of $950 in cash in his wallet, then more cash from inside his car, the office said.
Valentine maintained his innocence at trial, but his attorney argued his client did not plan the robbery, "was picked up at the last minute," and it was a "a very serious mistake."
Wells failed to appear for trial and the judge issued a warrant for her arrest, the district attorney's office said.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.