An Essex County man has been sentenced to 17 years in state prison for the armed robbery of a Hillside restaurant last year, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.
Sean Hill, 42, of Irvington must serve at least 85 percent of that term prior to the possibility of parole, according to the terms set down Friday by state Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim.
Hill had pleaded guilty in March two counts of first-degree robbery and two related weapons offenses.
The date was April 11, 2014 when Hill entered the Wah Yuen restaurant on Hillside Avenue and approached a customer at the front counter, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Alexander Rasi, who prosecuted the case. The customer had placed her wallet on the counter while waiting for her food, and Hill grabbed it and started searching through it, Rasi said.
Finding a small amount of cash, Hill demanded more money from the customer. When she said she had none, Hill then brandished a knife and ordered the restaurant owner to hand over cash from the register, threatening to harm the customer if he refused.
Hill subsequently fled the restaurant, and arriving Hillside Police Department patrol units located and arrested him a short distance away, also recovering a knife and the victim’s personal belongings.