Home invasion convict faces life sentence

A Yonkers man convicted of taking part in a violent home invasion at a Huntington house last year faces a term of life in prison when he is sentenced, a Suffolk prosecutor said Wednesday.

Vance Jackson, 47, previously was convicted of felonies including robbery and weapons possession, Assistant District Attorney Glenn Kurtzrock said. Those convictions allow State Supreme Court Justice C. Randall Hinrichs to give Jackson a mandatory life sentence, he said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 21.

Jackson would have to serve at least 20 years in prison before being eligible for parole, Kurtzrock said. He said Jackson had been in state or federal prison and in New York City jails for almost 23 years since 1981.

"The likelihood of his ever getting out of jail is slim," Kurtzrock said outside court. "He is the definition of a career criminal. He has one of the worst histories I've ever seen. He is extremely dangerous."

Through his attorney, Steven Raiser of Mineola, Jackson acknowledged the prior convictions during a hearing in Suffolk County Court.

In October, Jackson was convicted of assault, robbery and other charges for his role in an Aug. 28, 2009, burglary at a Virginia Street home in which two residents were shot and one was pistol-whipped. The victims survived the attack.

Three of Jackson's accomplices previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the burglary. Benjamin Thompson, 32, of Brooklyn, is serving 16 years to life in prison. Natalie Desir, 28, of Nyack, was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Theodore Briggs, 41, of the Bronx, is awaiting sentencing.

Jackson and the others stole $3,500 from the home. Prosecutors said the burglary stemmed from a dispute between two Huntington Town employees.