Oceanside man sentenced in fatal robbery

An Oceanside man was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison Tuesday for committing a robbery during which another man was killed.

Tyshaun Jacobs, 25, was acquitted of murder and weapons charges in the death of Desmond Kelly, a friend from whom, prosecutors said, Jacobs was trying to buy marijuana.

But he was convicted of first- and second-degree robbery charges in the case.

A second man, James Currie, 26, of Charlotte, N.C., is serving 25 years to life in the murder after a separate trial.

"I cannot help but think that if it had not been for you bringing Mr. Currie into this situation, this would not have happened," Nassau County Judge Tammy Robbins told Jacobs in court.

Prosecutors said that on Sept. 4, 2010, Currie and Jacobs went to Kelly's Inwood home to buy marijuana.

While they were there, prosecutors said, Currie shot Kelly five times with a .357 Magnum.

Currie and Jacobs stole marijuana and cash from the house, prosecutors said.

In court, Jacobs said he was sorry.

"I had no intention of something like this occurring," he said. "Everyone loses in this case."

His lawyer, Michael Elbert, of Mineola, said his client played no role in the killing.

"My client is not the type of person to get involved with the murder of a friend over a handful of marijuana," he said.

Kelly's mother, Yvonne Stokes Kelly, in a victim impact statement she gave before the sentencing, said she blames Jacobs for playing a role in her son's death.

"I want to forgive you . . . so it doesn't consume me," she said, adding, "You're not worth it."