Teen gets prison sentence for robbing restaurant at gunpoint

A teenager has been sentenced to seven to 10 years in prison for a robbery at the African Restaurant at gunpoint earlier this year.

Dhoul R. Weang, 18, of 307 E. Second St., No. 1, was sentenced in Hall County District Court on Wednesday. In addition to the prison time, he must pay $111 restitution.

Weang and another teen, James Kim Gatluak, also known as Kim j. Gatluak, 19, of 322 W. Eighth St., were each charged with two counts of robbery for the April 24 incident.

On that date, officers were called to the restaurant at 613 E. Fourth St. because two men there had been robbed at gunpoint, according to Grand Island police.

The men were employees of the restaurant and said the teens, one of whom had a handgun, entered the business at 11 p.m. and demanded money from them and the cash register, according to police.

Officers also believed Weang and Gatluak were responsible for four previous robberies or attempted robberies in the area in February and April. However, they haven't been charged in connection with those incidents.

One robbery charge was dismissed against each teen before they were sentenced.

Gatluak pleaded guilty to robbery on July 31 and was sentenced by Hall County District Judge William Wright on Sept. 24 to four years probation.

According to court documents, Gatluak must also pay $111 restitution, spend 365 days in jail, go to the McCook Work Ethic Camp and spend 120 days on electronic monitoring. He must also write a letter of apology to the victims; attend treatment; go to AA or NA meetings; take classes on topics such as anger management, life skills, making good decisions, ethics, cultural transition and conflict resolution; refrain from the use of alcohol and the possession of a firearm; and obtain his GED.