A man accused of organizing a series of violent armed robberies in South Florida was sentenced to nine life sentences Friday, a Palm Beach County judge ruled.
James Herard, 22, was convicted of attempted murder and a slew of other charges for the string of robberies in 2008.
During a robbery at a Dunkin' Donuts in Delray Beach, Herard allegedly shot Gerald Larkin in the face.
As 75-year-old Larkin testified in court about how he has suffered since the incident, Herard laughed out loud, the Palm Beach Post reported.
Herard has also been implicated in several violent crimes in Broward, including an unprovoked killing of a man who was walking home from work and a murder at a Tamarac Dunkin' Donuts.
Herard, who authorities claim is a leader in the notorious Crip gang, will still stand trial on murder charges in both cases and faces the death penalty if convicted.
