A Jewett City man was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday for his role in a home invasion/burglary in the borough in September 2015 that was fueled by the conspirators' addiction to opioid pain pills.

Robert Gumlaw, 39, had pleaded guilty in New London Superior Court to conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery. He will be on special parole for seven years following his release from prison.

His codefendant, Rita Allard, is serving a 4½ year prison stint. 

According to testimony, Gumlaw conspired with Allard to arrange for a third person to break into Allard's brother's home on Mechanic Street to retrieve Oxycodone and Oxycontin pills, prescribed to Allard, that the brother said he was holding so that Allard, who has a history of drug addiction, would not abuse them.

On Sept. 8, 2015, a man who has never been identified by police entered the home, pointed a gun at the victim and robbed him of two full bottles of Allard's prescribed narcotics and cash, according to prosecutor David J. Smith.

Gumlaw attempted to enlist others to carry out the crime, according to his attorney, M. Fred DiCaprio, but the person who went into the home did so at the behest of Allard. Gumlaw's involvement in the crime was proven through text messages he exchanged with Allard, DiCaprio said.

Gumlaw's criminal record includes convictions for breach of peace, risk of injury to a minor and sexual assault, according to Smith.

Gumlaw did suffer from a dependency on pain pills that stemmed from a work injury, DiCaprio said. He developed lung disease while working as a welder and was prescribed heavy medication after he had a lung removed, DiCaprio said. He has been incarcerated since October 2015, and DiCaprio said he thinks Gumlaw, upon his release, can be a productive member of society.

"You've made some bad decisions," Judge Hillary B. Strackbein told Gumlaw. She said that hopefully the time he is spending in prison will help him to stay clean upon his release.

k.florin@theday.com