JONESBORO – Craighead County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Grant DeProw announced Thursday Kentorius Jamal Davenport pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentenced to 14 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
Davenport, 19, of Jonesboro, was accused of robbing the cashier of the Family Dollar store at 106 S. Gee St. and two customers on Feb. 24, 2019. Police said Davenport fired a handgun inside the store, striking a wall above the cashier’s head. Davenport fled with nearly $4,000 in cash.
Police arrested Davenport within 30 minutes of the robbery, finding him hiding in a carport on Jefferson Avenue about a third of a mile from the store, DeProw said.
Davenport will serve at least 70 percent of his 14-year sentence before he is eligible for parole.
“We are satisfied with the plea” DeProw said. “It is an extreme amount of time to actually serve behind bars. This is one more dangerous criminal who won’t bother the citizens of Jonesboro.”
Jury selection had been set to begin Thursday at the Craighead County Fairgrounds, moved from the Craighead County Courthouse to allow for social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Davenport’s trial was scheduled to start back at the courthouse Thursday after the jurors were chosen.
“This plea spared jurors from the risk of COVID-19 infection,” DeProw said.
The deputy prosecuting attorney said he was pleased with the police investigation.
“I want to especially thank the fine work of the Jonesboro Police Department for their quick response and quick apprehension of this suspect,” he said.
press release
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