Patrick L. Robinson, Wayne County District Attorney announced that Kelley Elizabeth Branning, age 30, was sentenced to incarceration in a State Correctional Institution for a period of 40 months to 96 months for Robbery. Branning robbed the China Castle Restaurant on Main Street in Honesdale on December 18, 2017. She wore a mask and brandished a hand gun. She handed the restaurant owner a note demanding money. She stole approximately $347.00.
The Honesdale Borough Police Department investigated the robbery and arrested Branning on December 21, 2017. Branning pleaded guilty to Robbery (Threatened Serious Bodily Injury) a Felony of the 1st Degree.
District Attorney Robinson stated, “It was clear that the defendant Branning was very remorseful for her actions. The hand gun used by Branning was ultimately located and was a pellet gun. While Branning claimed she had no intent to harm anyone, her actions on December 18, 2017, were extremely dangerous. The restaurant owner could very easily have been armed, a patron could have been armed, or the responding police were obviously armed. Branning could have easily have been shot or an innocent bystander could have been hit by a stray bullet. In any event the restaurant owner was extremely frightened in this episode.”
“On Thursday we had over 30 cases of Sentencings and Guilty Pleas. Of those cases well over 50% were in some way drug related. In this case Branning robbed the China Castle restaurant in order to get money to buy Cocaine.”
“The Honesdale Borough Police did an excellent job investigating this robbery.”
Anyone with any information regarding the sale or distribution of illegal drugs in Wayne County please report the activity to the Wayne County Drug Task Force (WCDTF) at 570-253-4912 or the text tip-line at 570-391-0657.
