NEWARK — The criminal convictions of Ali Muhammad Brown began in 2005 with a bank fraud case in federal court in Washington State.



Brown was later convicted in Washington in 2008 for assault and in 2012 for communication with a minor for immoral purposes.



Then in 2014, Brown allegedly killed three men in Washington and traveled to New Jersey, where he is accused of fatally shooting Livingston teen Brendan Tevlin before committing two armed robberies.



Citing Brown's "downward spiral of criminality," Superior Court Judge Michael Petrolle on Wednesday sentenced him to 36 years and six months in state prison on his conviction in one of the robbery cases.



In that case, Brown, 31, of Seattle, was found guilty by a jury on Nov. 17 of robbery and weapons offenses for robbing a man at gunpoint on July 10, 2014 in the parking lot of an apartment complex in West Orange.



While imposing the sentence, Petrolle noted that Brown's criminal record demonstrates a "descending progression" from property crime to violent crime.



"In bringing that handgun here, he has escalated the level of his aggression and, in using it here, he has brought the potential for death and actual threat of serious bodily injury in New Jersey," Petrolle said.



Under the judge's sentence, Brown received a 35-year prison sentence for the first-degree robbery charge and two weapons offenses, and an 18-month prison sentence for the charge of unlawful possession of hollow point bullets. Those sentences are to be served consecutively.



Brown will likely serve about 33 years before becoming eligible for parole, and he will receive credit for roughly a year and a half of time served, the judge said.



While a first-degree robbery charge normally carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, Petrolle granted the state's application for an extended prison term, which ranged from 20 years to life in prison in Brown's case. The judge determined Brown is eligible for such a term in light of his at least three prior convictions.



Brown declined to make a statement during Wednesday's hearing.





During the hearing, Brown's attorney, Albert Kapin, called on Petrolle to impose a 20-year prison sentence, arguing in part that Brown's criminal history is not as significant as the records of many other offenders in New Jersey. Kapin also claimed Brown was unlikely to commit another offense, given the prison time he was facing.



But Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Jamel Semper, who tried the case, asked the judge to impose a life sentence, which equates to 75 years in prison.



In addition to Brown's criminal history and the need to deter him, Semper pointed to the risk that Brown will commit another offense. Semper said Brown committed "a calculated and deliberate act of violence" by cloaking himself in camouflage and robbing the victim at gunpoint.



Noting the fake ID later found on Brown, Semper said he actively attempted to elude law enforcement. At the time of the West Orange robbery, Brown was wanted for the three homicides in Washington and he was a fugitive out of Point Pleasant Beach, Semper said.



Semper said Brown was "simultaneously blending into society, while also eluding police, while also targeting our citizens."



"His criminality represents a clear and present danger to the citizens of Essex County," said Semper, adding that "the need to deter this defendant is overwhelming."





In the robbery case, Brown, while wearing a mask, approached the victim at about 6 a.m. as he opened a passenger side door of his vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 200 Mount Pleasant Avenue in West Orange.



Brown stole the man's wallet and other belongings, according to Semper. While pointing a handgun at the man, Brown then ordered the victim to get inside the trunk of the man's vehicle before he fled the scene, Semper said.



When police arrested Brown on July 18, 2014 in a nearby makeshift campsite, officers found him with various items, such as the handgun, the clothing used to mask his face and the victim's wallet, including his driver's license, Semper said.

RELATED: Brendan Tevlin's alleged killer convicted in an armed robbery, facing 20 years

Brown is still facing murder, terrorism and related charges in the June 25, 2014 shooting death of Tevlin.



Authorities have said Brown gunned down Tevlin, 19, when Brown and at least three other men attempted to rob Tevlin at a traffic light at Walker Road and Northfield Avenue in West Orange.



While the other men fled the scene, Brown moved Tevlin's body into the passenger seat of Tevlin's Jeep Liberty and drove it to a nearby apartment building, where he abandoned it, authorities said.



Brown — who also faces charges in the three homicides in Washington State — has told investigators he killed Tevlin as an act of "vengeance" for innocent lives lost in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Iran.



Before he was sentenced by Petrolle, Brown appeared briefly on Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler in the murder case. During that hearing, Kapin indicated he would be pursuing motions in the case, including a challenge to the terrorism charge.



Brown also is charged with robbing a man at gunpoint on June 29, 2014 at a coffee shop in Point Pleasant Beach.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.