Todd Johnson could spend the rest of his life in jail for the killing of Derrike Roppolo last year. (Armstrong County Jail File Photo)
A Kittanning Township juvenile could spend life in prison after shooting and killing a Leechburg man in February 2015 .
Yesterday morning, Todd Johnson – who celebrated his 18th birthday less than a month ago – was sentenced to serve between 31 years and life in The State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill in Cumberland County for the murder of 18-year-old Derrike “Bubble Gum” Roppolo of Leechburg last year.
Armstrong County Judge James Panchik made the final sentencing about two months after Johnson was found guilty of criminal homicide.
Last year, District Attorney Scott Andreassi said the Commonwealth’s investigation determined that Todd has a drug and alcohol issue, has a valid driver’s license and visited a Basin Drive apartment February 10 with another juvenile with the intent to rob the occupants of marijuana.
Johnson was tried as an adult.
According to the criminal complaint, Todd fired one round into Roppolo’s chest as well as pointing a weapon at another person. Roppolo died of the gunshot wound at Allegheny Valley Hospital.
Johnson is not eligible for the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive (RRRI) program to reduce his minimum sentence and was also sentenced to serve at least three years after previously being found guilty of felony robbery. That sentence will run consecutive to the murder imprisonment.
Johnson is credited with 141 days of time served in prison and must also perform 100 hours of community service, pay restitution and fines and undergo evaluation at ARC Manor.
Todd was previously also incarcerated in Westmoreland County Regional Youth Services Center in Greensburg on $500,000 bond
Johnson, who was previously enrolled as a junior in the Lenape Tech welding program and took Armstrong School District cyber classes, was also charged with misdemeanor possession of a firearm, terroristic threats and another felony robbery charge, but those charges were not processed.