The extensive criminal history of a Butler man, charged with using a hammer to threaten an employee during a gas station robbery last year, outweighed calls for leniency from family members when he was sentenced Thursday.

Zackary N. Clark, 28, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of robbery and was sentenced to serve 36 months to 72 months in state prison followed by 12 months of probation and pay $250 in restitution to Kwik Fill gas station.

State police charged Clark with robbery and other charges following a Nov. 10 incident in which he used a hammer to threatened an employee of the gas station at 1801 N. Main St. Ext. in Center Township and left with cash.

He has been held in the county prison in lieu of $100,000 bail since his arrest the following day.

Clark’s older sister Latasha Hutchinson and mother Mary Hutchinson asked Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy McCune to impose a light sentence.

His sister asked for a house arrest sentence and said her brother could live with her, and she would find employment for him.

“He is a great, great man” who is great with her children, she said.

His mother said he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and wasn’t taking his medication as an adult. He has gotten into a lot of trouble due to lack of medication, but is a good man who needs another chance, she said.

Clark’s attorney, assistant public defender Kimberly Hudak, said he was sentenced in January in Armstrong County to serve two and a half years in prison.

Speaking remotely from the county prison, Clark said he has no excuse for his actions and accepts responsibility. He said a lot of people believe in him and he wants an opportunity to be a better person and change his life.

McCune told Clark that he can change his life, but also noted his criminal history. He said Clark has numerous arrests and convictions as an adult and juvenile, and has had his parole and probation revoked several times. He said many of the crimes involved drugs and guns.