NORTHAMPTON — Two friends accused of staging an armed robbery at an Easthampton gasoline station last fall caught a break Thursday from a judge who spared them jail time.

Prosecutors said “best friends” Crista Donna Zwolenski, 24, and Craig Lewis, 20, orchestrated an armed robbery the night of Aug. 14, 2015 at the F.L. Roberts Mobil station in Easthampton, where Zwolenski ran the register. 

Crying softly and dabbing her eyes, Zwolenski pleaded guilty to larceny greater than $250, conspiracy, misleading police and falsifying a police report — charges that carried a maximum sentence of 21 years behind bars. But Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Jeremy Bucci asked that she be sentenced to two years in the House of Correction, with one year to be served and the balance suspended for a two-year probationary period.

Lewis pleaded guilty to larceny greater than $250 and conspiracy, with prosecutors asking for a suspended two-year sentence in the House of Correction. He faced a maximum of 10 years behind bars, according to sentencing guidelines.

Bucci told the judge that Lewis came into the store with a hoodie obscuring his face, wielding what appeared to be a handgun and demanding cash from Zwolenski.

But then, prosecutors said, she began acting more like an accomplice than a victim.

Zwolenski emptied the register and, without hesitating or needing further instruction, reached under the counter and handed over additional envelopes of cash — cash that she was supposed to have been depositing into the store’s safe throughout her shift.

Then she turned around and gave Lewis 16 packs of Newport cigarettes, also without further instruction or comment from the masked assailant in front of her, Bucci said. Lewis made off with about $3,000.

Zwolenski called 911 to report the holdup. According to police, she had also texted Lewis minutes before, asking him when he would arrive.

Lewis told police when he was interviewed four days later that he was in cahoots with Zwolenski, Bucci said. Zwolenski denied involvement, but was arrested anyway.

This crime “doesn’t just inconvenience the police, it inconveniences the public in these cases,” Bucci said.

Bucci explained that a car matching the description of the one Lewis drove — operated by someone who also happened to match his description — was stopped after the robbery, and that the uninvolved occupants were rightfully frightened and frustrated. 

Zwolenski’s attorney, David Rountree, of Greenfield, argued that his client deserved another chance. She had fallen on significant financial hardship, had at least two young children and was thousands of dollars in debt at the time of the crime, he said.

Now she is attending community college and taking steps to get her children back from the Department of Children and Families, who took custody of them after the incident, according to Rountree.

“This is a young lady who … is not a stranger to work … trying hard to make the right decision,” Rountree said, making his case for no jail time. “She is worthy of a future.” 

Lewis’ attorney, Marissa Elkins, of Northampton, made a similar plea. This was an incident, she said, that was entirely out of character for Lewis. All he wanted to do was help his friend.

“What I’ve learned about Mr. Lewis is he’s perhaps prone to desperate measures,” Elkins said. “He is someone very driven to support his family and work hard … he’s asking for some mercy … to get back on the track he was already on.”

Moments later, a heavy quiet hung over the courtroom as Judge John Ferrara considered the sentences.

“My gut sense, if you will, is that this is too serious a matter to be continued without a finding,” Ferrara said. But, he added, “I’m going to cut both defendants a break.”

The judge ruled that the cases of both Zwolenski and Lewis would be continued without a finding for two years, requiring both to steer clear of the gas station and Zwolenski to keep attending school and remain employed. The two also have to pay restitution of $1,469 — the amount that has yet to be recovered by authorities.

Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5234.