Phillips Sentenced in Chemung, Chautauqua, and Erie Counties

Ralph "Bucky" Phillips, the man who lead police on the state's largest ever manhunt, told state troopers "I'll be back" after he was sentenced to life without parole for shooting and killing a trooper.

On Tuesday in Chautauqua County Court, Phillips received life without parole for shooting and killing Trooper Joseph Longobardo, and 40 years to life for shooting and wounding Trooper Donald Baker. Both were shot in August while working surveillance near the home of Casey Krowe, Phillips' former girlfriend and the mother of their daughter.

On Wednesday, Phillips was sentenced in Chemung County Court to 40 years to life for shooting and wounding Trooper Sean Brown during a traffic stop near Elmira in June. State Police Superintendent Wayne Bennett said that Phillips grinned at Trooper Brown as he shot him in the stomach. Brown has recovered and is back on the force.

As for Trooper Baker, Superintendent Bennett said he continues to recover at home, and that it is unclear when he will be able to return to work. Trooper Baker was critically wounded when he was shot, and was in a coma for weeks.

On Tuesday in Chautauqua County Court, Phillips apologized to the troopers' families, but told Justice Richard Kloch that he never meant to kill the troopers, just to humiliate them, tie them up with duct tape, and call 9-1-1. He also indicated that he was not aware that they were police, because they were wearing camouflage and face paint.

Phillips also tried, unsuccessfully, to withdraw his guilty pleas. Justice Kloch said he received no motion calling for the withdrawal. When Phillips asked the judge if he had received a letter from him in December, Justice Kloch said he had not. He also reminded Phillips that he pleaded guilty under oath, and even told the judge in November that he was "guilty as hell" of escaping from the Erie County Correctional Facility in April.

"You should have known those were police officers and you shot them," Justice Kloch said.

Kloch also told Phillips that Longobardo will be remembered, but that Phillips would soon be forgotten.

"You're about to become very irrelevant," Justice Kloch said.

Outside of court, Phillips' sister and a close friend criticized Phillips' attorney, Richard Rich, and Justice Kloch.

"It's not over," said Wendy Gambles, Phillips' friend and a paralegal. "We're not done, and he had a lot to say today, and they didn't listen to him." She said Phillips will appeal.

The wives of troopers Longobardo and Baker were in the courtroom, but did not speak before the sentencing, and also declined to comment to reporters.

"The reason they did not give statements and instead just submitted victim impact statements was because they did not want to give this terrible man the time of day," Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley said.

Asked what it was like to be in court with the wives, Phillips' sister Mitty Cornelius said, "I feel bad for them. I sympathize with them completely. I understand their point totally."

After the sentencing, New York State Police Superintendent Wayne Bennett told reporters that Phillips said "I'll be back" to him and other troopers as he walked out of court.

"I will be absolutely amazed if he is ever back in Chautauqua County as a living human being," Bennett said.

As for Phillips' claim that he did not mean to kill the troopers, Bennett said, "He didn't mean to do about 40 felonies that I know of. It's all garbage."

District Attorney David Foley said under the plea deal, charges will be dropped against Casey Krowe and her daughter, Petrina Wright. Krowe was accused of hindering prosecution for assisting Phillips after his escape. Wright was accused of endangering the welfare of a child for allowing Phillips to be near his grandchild, and also for resisting arrest.

"To me, it was a balancing act. It was a cost-benefit analysis," Foley said about the plea.

As for Phillips' attempt to withdraw his guilty pleas, Foley said that he never received a motion, and neither did the court. Foley said that Phillips was able to make an oral application to withdraw at the time of his sentencing, but that the judge made the decision not to allow him to vacate the pleas.

Foley also said he has evidence that Phillips' actions were premeditated, referring to a letter written by Phillips, following the first shooting of a state trooper, Sean Brown, near Elmira in June. In it, Foley said Phillips wrote that he needed to get better weapons, because he "can't be having these folks walk away after I put it to them."

Foley said the plea deal did not promise family visitations or special treatment, saying he cannot dictate how the Department of Corrections handles prisoners.

Charges are proceeding against three friends of Phillips, Natasha Berg, Alice Kelly, and Timothy Seekings, accused of helping him during his flight from justice.

Later in Buffalo, Phillips was sentenced to 25 years to life for escaping from the Erie County Correctional facility in Alden in April. That escape lead to the massive manhunt that did not end until September 8, when he was apprehended in Pennsylvania, just over the New York border.

In court in Buffalo, Phillips accused Justice Kloch of lying when he said he had not received a letter from Phillips. He also said he was just mocking the court when, last month, he told Kloch he was "guilty as hell" of escape.

During each sentencing, the courtroom was packed with troopers and other members of law enforcement. In Chautauqua County court, reporters were seated in a separate courtroom and watched the proceedings via video conference.

As for Phillips' comments in court, his attorney, Richard Rich, said, "His behavior kind of speaks for itelf, but in private discussions, he did appear to be somewhat remorseful." Rich said Phillips' letter calling for a withdrawal of his pleas also requested new counsel, but that as his current attorney, he will file an appeal of the sentencings.

Rich said Phillips will first be sent to the Elmira Correctional Facility, a maximum security facility, but that he may not stay there for good.

Authorities denied that a special cell is being built for Phillips, but acknowledged that he is considered an escape risk, given his history.

An official with the Department of Corrections said reports that a special cell is being built for Phillips are false, but that extra security measures are taken for prisoners considered an escape risk.

Authorities said they were disappointed that New York State's death penalty is currently inactive.

"I'm not going to sit here and tell you that we don't think as troopers that this wasn't an appropriate case for a death penalty, because we do," Superintendent Bennett said.