Armed Home Invader Gets 40 Years in Prison

CONROE, TX -- On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, a Montgomery County jury found Defendant Jamarcus Polley, 21, guilty of two charges of first-degree felony Aggravated Robbery. The Honorable Judge Patty Maginnis of the 435th District Court sentenced Polley to 40 years in prison for his role in the violent crime. His co-defendant, Russell Muchow, pled guilty in June of 2021 and received a 30-year prison sentence. Because a firearm was used and exhibited during the offense, Polley and Muchow will have to serve half of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that on June 28, 2020, at around 10 p.m., Muchow rang the victim's doorbell under the pretense that he was a DoorDash delivery driver. When the first victim, a 29-year-old mother of 4, answered the door, Muchow held out a receipt with the victim's name and address hand-written on it and a bag of fast food. The mother was skeptical, but before she could shut the door, Muchow stormed inside and struck her with the butt of his revolver. As she fought Muchow over the weapon, Polley entered the home and pointed a gun at the woman's 2-year-old son. Polley ordered the family into the living room and held the woman, her husband, their two-year-old son, and their infant daughter hostage in the living room.

Alerted by the sounds of the robbery, the 8-year-old son came downstairs to see what was happening. When Polley heard the 8-year-old on the stairway, he ordered Muchow to capture the child. Muchow brought the boy downstairs and held the family at gunpoint while Polley took the husband and ransacked the house for valuables.

During this time, the mother managed to secretly call 911. Muchow and Polley wore face masks during the robbery, but Polley pulled down his mask before leaving. Polley then told the family to remember his face and threatened to kill the father and his children if they called the police. Polley and Muchow left the house in a silver Chrysler 300 with significant cash, two firearms, a substantial amount of marijuana, and a DVR recorder for a surveillance system.

Responding to the family's 911 call, Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Ashley spotted the Chrysler at a nearby gas station, just minutes after the home invasion. He detained the driver and passenger and located stolen items and the guns used by the robbers inside the vehicle. During the follow-up investigation, both adult victims were able to identify Muchow and Polley.

In the sentencing phase of the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Polley's previous criminal history, including evidence that Polley was on felony probation at the time of this offense. The mother also testified powerfully to the lasting impact of these crimes on her children.

Prosecutor Philip Teissier: 'Violent offenders who are willing to point guns at children should expect and should receive substantial prison time. These defendants terrorized a family, and these sentences obtained through trial and pleas will ensure that the community is protected from them for a long time. We would like to especially thank the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and specifically Detectives Jason Hammon and Teri Ross, as well as Deputies Anthony Ashley and Bobby Baker for their excellent work on this case.'

District Attorney Brett Ligon: 'Younger offenders can be the most dangerous offenders as this case clearly shows. Polley was already under the supervision of a court for a felony offense when he pointed a gun at children, and that clearly did not deter him in the least. After the jury quickly convicted him, Judge Maginnis appropriately determined that prison for this Defendant was the only reasonable response to this violent, alarming, and aggressive behavior.'