SPARTANBURG MAN RECEIVES LIFE PRISON SENTENCE FOR EAST-SIDE STORE ROBBERY

A Spartanburg County man received a life prison sentence today after he admitted to using a knife to rob an east-side convenience store.

Darrell Franklin Mathis, 35, interrupted the second day of his trial to plead guilty to the March 8, 2004 armed robbery of the Hot Spot at 2901 E. Main St. Mathis entered the store about 3:05 a.m. wearing a blue hooded jacket with the hood pulled over his face. He flashed a kitchen knife when he approached the counter to demand money. The clerk turned over about $30. When Mathis left the business, he climbed into a small, dark-colored vehicle and traveled north on Phillips Road. Spartanburg County sheriff’s deputies found the vehicle days later sitting on the shoulder of I-85. The knife was still in it.

The clerk picked Mathis out of a photo line-up.

Principal Deputy Solicitor Barry Barnette said the case was furthered aided by the fact that the robbery was recorded on video.

Circuit Judge Mark Hayes sentenced Mathis in accordance with the state’s two-strike/three-strike law for violent offenders. Mathis’ prior criminal record includes convictions for armed robbery, assault and battery with intent to kill, second-degree burglary, common-law robbery and escape. He was also on probation at the time of the robbery.

“Mr. Mathis is a good example of why we need tough prison sentences,” Barnette said.