Cecilton, MD — Following a swift jury decision, Wayne Donald Yurcovic, 42, faces a possible life-altering prison term exceeding 100 years after being found guilty on 15 charges, including armed robbery and assault. This conviction springs from an incident last October during which he targeted a convenience store in Cecilton.
The conclusion came after a brief deliberation period, approximately 90 minutes, ending a two-day trial in the Cecil County Circuit Court. The jurors convicted Yurcovic of severe offenses such as first-degree assault and the use of a handgun in the commission of a felony, alongside numerous related charges.
Prosecutor Robert Sentman highlighted Yurcovic’s prior criminal background during the trial, noting a significant past armed robbery conviction. Yurcovic’s latest conviction includes possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, a charge that underscores his habitual engagement with crime.
Assistant Public Defender Allen E. Wolf represented Yurcovic, who elected not to testify in his own defense. In a bid to establish the gravity of Yurcovic’s actions, Sentman presented testimonies from the two store employees traumatized during the robbery and the Maryland State Police officers who later apprehended the suspect.
Presiding over the trial, Cecil County Circuit Court Administrative Judge Brenda A. Sexton scheduled Yurcovic’s sentencing for December 17. Given his prior conviction, certain mandatory minimum penalties are likely to apply, potentially influencing the length of his incarceration.
The robbery, according to police reports, occurred after midnight outside the Royal Farms store. Yurcovic, reportedly lurking nearby, confronted a male employee as he walked to his vehicle, brandishing a handgun and commanding actions that led back inside the store. There, a female clerk was coerced under a similar threat to hand over all the money from the register. The ordeal escalated as Yurcovic pilfered a large box of cigarettes valued over $3,000 in addition to the cash taken.
Police reported that the entire robbery was executed within a mere five minutes, after which Yurcovic promptly fled the scene. Useful surveillance footage captured the suspect’s actions, which, together with a quick public appeal for identification through social media, greatly assisted the investigative process.
Eventually, advances in the investigation led to Yurcovic’s arrest several months later in April. The diligence of Detective Kelly Jaskiewicz of the Maryland State Police, who was instrumental in tracking down Yurcovic, brought a significant closure to the unsettling episode.