A decade-old heist came to a close as a man was convicted for the armed robbery of a Canton jewelry store, which netted over $50,000 worth of sparklers. Erin Stephon Arms, 39, faced justice this past Friday when a Cherokee County jury found him guilty of the 2013 crime spree at the Cartersville Jewelry Exchange.
Details from the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office indicate that Arms terrorized store employees, donning a mask and a conspicuous red Alabama sweatshirt during the daylight robbery. He reportedly ordered the two staff members to the floor at gunpoint before making away with the loot and fleeing in a Ford truck. The ordeal unfolded on Nov. 22, 2013, casting a long shadow over the intervening years, as reported by Atlanta News First.
The case, which had gone cold, started heating up after a tipster alerted authorities to Arms' discarded sweatshirt and gloves found on an I-575 on-ramp. A recovered gun, close to where the truck was abandoned, became a pivotal piece of evidence linking Arms to the crime. Matching DNA from these items with arms was crucial in drawing the lines of guilt to the accused.
Throughout the trial, 12 witnesses stood up to recount the frightening events, and more than 80 exhibits were presented, including the DNA evidence, the gun used, and surveillance footage. The mention of specific evidence comes according to a statement obtained by WSBTV. As of now, Arms awaits sentencing, an outcome of a story over a decade in the making. The minimum sentence for armed robbery in Georgia could land him in prison for 10 years.
