Laurel Springs Woman Sentenced to 8 Years For Gloucester County Armed Robberies

A Laurel Springs woman was sentenced to eight years in state prison for her admitted robbery of a woman at gunpoint in the parking area of a Kohl’s store in Washington Township on Dec. 1, 2012, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday afternoon.

Ashley Willis, 28, previously pleaded guilty to that robbery, as well as the robbery of a Washington Township Wendy’s at gunpoint that same month.

On Friday, Willis’s attorney said her actions illustrate the “horrible effects” of heroin addiction.

“It’s no secret what occurred was because of addiction to heroin,” Defense Attorney Kenneth Aita said.  “She is here to accept responsibility, and she understands how horrible the crimes were and the effect they had on the victims. She will have a lot of time to reflect on what occurred here.”

Willis must serve 85 percent of her sentence before being considered for parole. She was also ordered to have no contact with the victims of the robberies.

She was also sentenced to three-year state prison sentences for each of two 2012 theft charges occurring in Runnemede and Gloucester Township, to be served concurrently with her sentences for the Washington Township crimes.

In those instances, she obtained checks issued to her sister cashed them for more than $500 in Gloucester Township in July of 2012. She did the same with a $500 check intended for her sister in Runnemede in November of 2012.