Prison time for men who robbed retired Miami-Dade judge

The getaway driver in the robbery of retired Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Scott Silverman will serve 12 years in prison.

Marke Williams, 25, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to armed robbery. He also agreed to serve five years of probation. The gunman, Ryan Joseph, 19, is already doing seven years in prison.

Prosecutors say the pair — after trolling the streets looking for people to rob – mugged Silverman at gunpoint as the former judge was getting out of his car at his Miami Shores home in September. Stolen: his wallet, money and wedding ring.

Now working as a mediator, Silverman retired as a judge in 2012 after spending 22 years on the bench. He was also the official historian for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami.

The case against Williams was strong. A license plate-reader captured Williams’ rental car near the scene. Video surveillance also showed the two spending Silverman’s money at a Foot Locker store. Joseph pleaded guilty in May. He agreed to testify against Williams, whom Tuesday decided against going to trial.

“If the state loses, the prosecutors go home,” said his attorney, Aubrey Webb. “If Marke had lost, he would have gone to prison for life.”

This story was originally published June 23, 2015 at 3:41 PM with the headline "Prison time for men who robbed retired Miami-Dade judge."