Spartanburg Man Receives 15 Year Sentence

A Spartanburg man received a 15-year prison sentence today after he admitted to robbing a person while they were making a deposit of a local bank.

Dearius B. Shelton, 23, pleaded guilty to armed robbery. He must serve 80 percent of Circuit Judge Mark Hayes’ prison sentence before he is eligible for release.

Shelton committed the robbery Sept. 7, 2008 in the parking lot of Wachovia, E. Main St. A local convenience store employee told police a masked man approached her about 6:30 p.m. and pointed a silver handgun in her face while she was making an after-hours deposit. The armed robber took the money bags from the woman and fled into the wooded area behind the bank.

The robber dropped his mask while he fled from the crime scene. Spartanburg Public Safety investigators collected DNA from the mask and used the information to identify Shelton as their suspect. Investigators jailed Shelton on June 8, 2010.

Shelton’s prior criminal record included a 2009 conviction for receiving stolen goods.

Assistant Solicitor Zach Ellis prosecuted the case.

For more information, contact Murray Glenn at 809-4892.