Eight years in fatal robbery

Felon testified to avoid murder rap

Quinton Lythgoe was 16 when he participated in a robbery of a man that turned deadly in a shopping center parking lot near Wellington more than five years ago.

Now 22, Lythgoe on Monday received his sentence — eight years in prison with credit for about half that time already behind bars.

Prosecutors recommended the punishment as part of a deal they made with Lythgoe for his testimony last month against codefendant Jamal Smith, 24, in the shooting death of Kemar Clayton, 24.

Satisfied with Lythgoe’s help in convicting Smith and sending him to prison for the rest of his life, Assistant State Attorney An- Slater also dropped a first-degree murder charge against Lythgoe.

With good behavior, he’ll be set free at age 25.

“It gives a young man with a great family and support base an opportunity to get his life back on track,” said defense attorney Michael Salfinally nick.

Lythgoe, formerly of suburban West Palm Beach, is still a convicted felon after his sentencing by Judge Laura Johnson.

He pleaded guilty last year to the robbery charge as part of a deal to testify against his accomplice, Smith.

While on the witness stand last month, Lythgoe told the jury he agreed to take responsibility for the Aug. 1, 2011, crime in exdrew

change for a maximum 15-year prison term.

Assistant Public Defender Elizabeth Ramsey then called Lythgoe a liar who leapt at the plea bargain to avoid the murder rap.

Lythgoe said Smith planned to steal from Clayton because it was going to be “easy money.” The pair would pretend to meet Clayton over a ruse to sell him an iPad, and then rob him in the parking lot off State Road 7.

Clayton was known to carry a lot of cash in his business of buying and selling electronics and other goods, prosecutor Slater said.

But it turned out to be a “robbery gone bad, basically” after sitting down in Clayton’s Mercedes, Lythgoe said. He testified that Clayton panicked after Smith pulled out his gun, and Lythgoe pulled out a BB gun and demanded the trunk to be opened.

Lythgoe said he was at the trunk looking at racks of expensive sneakers when he heard gunshots.

During the encounter, Clayton tried to getaway but ultimately collapsed in the driver’s seat with one bullet wound, prosecutors said.

Smith testified he pulled out his weapon only because he thought Clayton was threatening him at gunpoint; Smith fired five shots while Clayton’s gun was found fully loaded.

Lythgoe