DUNCAN MAN RECEIVES LIFE PRISON SENTENCE FOR ARMED RESTAURANT ROBBERY

A Duncan man received a life prison sentence today for the armed robbery of a west-side restaurant.

Raymond T. Kelley, 65, was found guilty of armed robbery at the conclusion of a two-day jury trial before Circuit Judge John Few. Kelley, who was sentenced under the state’s two-strike/three-strike law for repeat offenders, is not eligible for parole.

The hold-up occurred Nov. 11, 2006 at Pizza A Plenty, 2153 E. Main St. Suite A-1, Duncan. Kelley entered the store about 7:55 p.m. and threatened employees with a loaded single-barrel shotgun. Kelley took a sum of money from the employees and left the parking lot driving an older model blue pick-up. Two witnesses followed the truck to a Reidville Road convenience store where Kelley stopped to re-fill the vehicle’s gas tank. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Kelley in the convenience store parking lot. The gun was sitting on the front seat of the truck. Kelley had the stolen money in his pants pocket, Assistant Solicitor Derrick Bulsa said.

During an interview with deputies, Kelley said he committed the hold-up for gas money. He said he had trouble getting a job since he was released from prison.

Kelley’s prior criminal record spanned more than 30 years in Kentucky with 2 convictions for armed robbery, burglary and cultivating marijuana.