Dawson

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Two defendants who entered guilty pleas to a 2017 Thomasville armed robbery were sentenced to lengthy prison terms and probation by a Thomas County Superior Court judge.

Paul Edward Dawson Jr. and Travaris Deshone Walden were sentenced by Judge Harry Jay Altman to 20-year sentences, with 12 years in prison and eight years on probation.

Walden, 21, 410 Seventh St. N.W., Moultrie, and Dawson, 22, 195 North Boulevard, Alma, entered guilty pleas to armed robbery, aggravated assault and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Walden’s sentence is concurrent with Thomas County and Colquitt County sentences, while Dawson’s is concurrent with any sentence he is currently serving.

The defendants were suspects in the March 6, 2017, bold nighttime armed robbery of a convenience store after the victim left the business about 11:30 p.m. The business owner, with a store clerk as a passenger, was forced off North Pinetree Boulevard and robbed of cash.

Suspects pulled in front of the victim, owner of O&M Foodmart, 1527 E. Jackson St., stopped him and robbed him.

The store owner was struck with a weapon, which discharged, and the bullet went through the roof of the victim’s van.

The victim returned to the business. While he was taking to police, the store owner saw suspects drive by the store.

With the exception of Dawson, suspects were captured a short time later, when the vehicle they were traveling in was forced off the road by a Thomas County Sheriff’s Office deputy and crashed. Dawson, who had been driving, later told investigators he got out of the car on Libby Lane and ran into woods.

At the time of the robbery, Lt. Tim Watkins, sheriff’s office chief investigator, said Dawson admitted to robberies in Thomasville, Tifton and Moultrie.

In addition to Thomas County charges, Thomasville police charged suspects with criminal street gang activity, Capt. Maurice Holmes, Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division commander, said in 2017.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820