Man who wanted to return to jail gets probation for robbery

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man who robbed a restaurant then waited for police to arrive so he could return to jail and avoid homelessness has been sentenced to five years of probation.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 58-year-old Paul Borroni pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree robbery of a Clayton restaurant last year. Borroni had spent almost four decades in prison prior to the arrest and was struggling to settle on the outside.

Borroni’s attorney says Borroni changed his mind about wanting to return to prison after realizing he’s capable of turning his life around.

The judge sentenced Borroni to 15 years in prison, but suspended the sentence and put him on probation, saying he must pursue job training and mental health treatment to avoid being put back behinds bars.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com