2 Men Sentenced In 'Violent' Lower Bucks Co. Comic Store Robbery

LOWER SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA —Two men from Michigan have pleaded guilty to the violent robbery of a comic bookstore in September 2022, authorities said.

The Bucks County District Attorney's Office said Zackery Maximus Tucker, 23, of Quincy, MI, pled guilty on Friday to robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and aggravated assault.

He was sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Stephen A. Corr to five to 12 years in state prison. Tucker was also ordered to have no contact with the victim or his family and the Comic Collection store.

He was also ordered to pay restitution for $20,029.88.

Caleb James-Lorenze Simpson, 36, of Clarklake, MI, pled guilty to the same charges, and his sentencing was deferred until May 2.

Before sentencing, the owner of the Comic Collection Store at 83 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville, read a statement about how the attack has affected his life.

David Schwartz said he has owned the store since 1985, sharing his passion for comic books and collectibles with his customers.

Over that time, he said he’s never once had a problem at the store, becoming a well-known and respected member of the community.

All that changed on Sept. 18, 2022, when he was brutally beaten and robbed by Tucker and Simpson, he said in his letter.

“They took the sense of security and safety away from me,” he said.

The victim suffered numerous contusions, lacerations, broken teeth, and broken ribs.

At 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2022, officers from the Lower Southampton Township Police Department were dispatched to the store for a report of an assault and robbery.

At Friday’s hearing, First Assistant District Attorney Edward M. Louka presented evidence that included store surveillance footage that captured the attack and bodycam footage that showed officers responding and finding Schwartz on the floor, bloodied, beaten, and zip-tied.

The footage showed two men wearing masks, later identified as Simpson and Tucker, enter the store pretending to be legitimate customers and asking the store owner to assist them in getting merchandise off a high shelf.

After the owner got to the top of the ladder, Simpson violently knocked him off, sending him flipping to the ground and landing on his head. Both Simpson and Tucker then beat the victim and tied him up.

During the assault, Simpson punched the victim while wearing brass knuckles and held a knife to his face threatening to kill him if he did not cooperate.

The robbers took a laptop, the victim’s keys, cash, comic books, Pokémon cards, action figures, and other store merchandise. They also emptied the victim’s wallet and left his credit cards behind.

During a search for the suspects, police recovered some of the stolen merchandise and clothing believed to be worn by them.

Over a year later, on Dec. 19. 2023, Lower Southampton Township Police received information that linked Simpson and Tucker to the Comic Collection robbery. Further investigation, which included results from DNA testing, confirmed that both men committed the crime.