BENTONVILLE — Tevin DeShawn Knight will always remember Aug. 21, 2013. It’s the day he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and the day his daughter was born.
It took a Benton County jury 45 minutes Wednesday to fi nd Knight guilty of aggravated robbery, a Class Y felony. He faced a prison sentence that ranged from 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment. The jury recommended the Vian, Okla., man serve 12 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
Jurors began listening to testimony Tuesday. Knight, 21, was accused of setting up a meeting on Craigslist to sell an iPhone, then robbing the buyer at gunpoint Feb. 15, 2012.
Tyler Scott told jurors he was contacted via text message about buying the iPhone 4s. A meeting was set up at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pea Ridge. Scott said he came outside the restaurant and met the man who was to sell him the iPhone.
Scott testified he paid $300 for the iPhone and then saw the silver barrel of a revolver. The man then took the iPhone, the $300 and Scott’s remaining money and fled the scene. Scott then called police. Scott, though, couldn’t later identify the man in two photo lineups conducted by police.
Sgt. Rick Helmer with the Pea Ridge Police Department said police were able to “ping” the phone used to contact Scott. The phonewas in the Rogers area during one ping. Two other pings showed it in the Fayetteville area.
Helmer admitted when questioned by Mike Roberson, Knight’s attorney, the ping results weren’t 100 percent accurate since someresults showed the phone was in the Texarkana area.
The jury watched two police videos of Knight where he confessed his involvement in the robbery.
Lauren Brown, one of Knight’s former girlfriends, told jurors he had her white iPhone with him when he used her car Feb. 15, 2012.
Brown told jurors Knight and one of his friends were gone two to three hours before they re-to Knight’s apartment in Fayetteville. She said she overheard Knight talking about the robbery and him needing money to pay his rent.
“Tevin Knight victimized Tyler Scott,” Nathan Smith, deputy prosecutor, said in his closing statements. “He went there with the intent to rob him.”
Roberson questioned whether there was sufficient evidence to fi nd Knight guilty.
“There’s no victim here to say Mr. Knight was there,” Roberson said.
“That’s substantial in this case. This is a serious criminal case.”
Brown said during the sentencing proceedings she was with Knight and one of his friends when they went to Chester to meet a man to supposedly sell an iPhone on March 11, 2012. Knight arranged the meeting through Craigslist, Brown said.
Brown told jurors Knight robbed the man at gunpoint. They were arrested later that night on the return trip to Fayetteville.
Jurors were told Knightpleaded guilty in the Crawford County case and had received a 60-month suspended sentence.
Caroline Musgrove, Knight’s grandmother, described him as a good person who got involved with the wrong people. She told jurors she didn’t raise a thug. Knight’s grandfather and older brother also testified on his behalf.
Knight testified and told jurors his girlfriend had given birth Wednesday morning to their daughter.
The woman was in the courtroom Tuesday.
Circuit Judge Robin Green told Knight he comes from a good family and his grandparents are good people. She urged Knight to use his time in prison to become a role model and live life to higher standards.
“That’s my wish for you,” Green said.
Knight hugged Roberson before Sheri◊’s O◊ce deputies led him from the courtroom.
“Congratulations on the baby,” a family member yelled as Knight left the courtroom.
News, Pages 1 on 08/28/2013