Randall Tyler Roberts was so close to completing his six years on supervised probation for his role in the June 5, 2018, armed robbery of the Dollar General Store on Hwy. 127 North.
Roberts pleaded guilty to the hold-up on Nov. 10, 2018, and received a six-year suspended sentence to be served on supervised probation.
New charges — considered minor under normal circumstances — were filed recently and resulted in a probation revocation hearing.
On April 7, Roberts found himself in front of Criminal Court Judge Gary McKenzie, and it was an enjoyable experience. The new charge placed his freedom in jeopardy and could have resulted in having to serve the six-year sentence.
Roberts and his brother, ages 22 and 19, respectively, at the time, said they committed the robbery while under peer pressure from a third defendant.
McKenzie expressed his disappointment in Roberts’ slip-up. “Everyone in this room wants to see you succeed,” McKenzie was quoted as telling Roberts.
After mulling over Roberts’ predicament, the judge finally decided to give the defendant one last chance.
Roberts was given credit for time served in jail since his arrest, was allowed to reinstate probation and retain judicial diversion.
However, he was reminded there would be no third chance.
In other cases on the docket, the following took place:
Probation
•James Daniel Cumby, two counts of probation violation, continued to May 5.
•Derrick Kane Foster, three counts of probation violation, continued to May 5.
•Randi Danielle Reppert, Public Defender’s Office appointed to represent Reppert; pleaded guilty to the violation and to serve the balance of a four-year sentence in the 2023 case.
•Georgia Ann Davisson, probation violation warrant dismissed.
•Matthew Gene Russell, Public Defender’s Office appointed to represent Russell and probation violation hearing continued to May 19.