STAFF REPORT :::
A Florida man has been convicted of multiple felony charges related to a 2019 armed robbery at Ringgold’s Grocery.
Lend Byrd Jefferson, age 28, was convicted Thursday of two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Jefferson has a prior conviction in Florida for robbery with a firearm.
The state’s case, presented by Spalding County Assistant District Attorneys Adelle Petersen and Holly MacDonald, argued that at approximately 9 p.m. Aug. 21, 2019, Jefferson brandished a firearm at a store clerk while a co-defendant took money, the clerk’s purse and wallet.
Jefferson and his co-defendant were arrested Aug. 22, 2019. Officials say the stolen property was recovered in their residence.
Jefferson’s co-defendant will be tried at a later date.
“My Spalding County office has worked extremely hard these past two weeks to present these cases to a jury. This jury has spoken and let this verdict also send a message that law abiding citizens are completely fed up with violent crime in our community,” said Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder. “To those that insist on committing violent crime, just stop. Enough is enough.”
Superior Court Judge Fletcher Sams sentenced Jefferson to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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