PROVO -- An Orem man was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for an October 2009 armed robbery.

Jacob Falo, 20, pleaded guilty in June to three counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated kidnapping, all first-degree felonies, as well as a second-degree felony charge of burglary. His attorney later asked for a competency evaluation, and Judge Samuel McVey ruled Monday that Falo is competent.

Falo's attorney, Filia Uipi, told the judge his client had few opportunities in life to be successful. Falo's math and spelling skills are well below his age level and he had a difficult childhood of abuse at the hands of his father. Both of his parents have been methamphetamine users since Falo was seven years old, he said.

"Considering the environment he was raised, no wonder he has been involved in all of these criminal activities," Uipi said.

Uipi asked the judge to be lenient and give Falo a second chance. While he said he did not want to minimize what Falo did, Uipi said he believes his client can be a contributing member of society.

Prosecutor Jason Sant, however, said Falo's crime was very serious and warrants a 15 years to life sentence. Falo concocted the plan to rob the home and enlisted his girlfriend, his brother and his brother's juvenile friend.

On Oct. 9, 2008, Sant said, Falo and the co-defendants, James Falo, Berniece Halalilo and a juvenile, broke into a home in Orem and took the five occupants captive. For 20-30 minutes, the captives were forced to remain in a circle in the living room while one person in the group guarded them and the others ransacked the home, Sant said. One person in the group had a gun, while another had a baseball bat.

At the time of the crime, Falo was on probation for another robbery, for which Sant said Falo's brother was also charged in juvenile court.

"I think he's had his second chance, and I would ask the court to follow the recommendation," Sant said.

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