(SHELBY COUNTY D.A. NEWS RELEASE) – A 57-year-old man wasconvicted Friday of aggravated robbery stemming from an armed holdup last yearat a Dollar Tree store near the Northgate Shopping Center in Frayser, saidShelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Defendant James Yates is being held in the Shelby County Jail andwill be sentenced next month by Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2018, when agunman wearing a camouflage ski mask and a beanie entered the store, pointed agun at a clerk in one of the aisles and ordered her to the counter and to putcash from the register into an empty green potato chip bag he handed to her.
The suspect dressed in dark jeans, a tan jacket and tan books ranout the door and a short time later responding officers saw someone with asimilar appearance run into a nearby barbecue restaurant.
Officers found Yates hiding in the restaurant bathroom and found apotato chip bag stuffed with money in the restroom trash can. They also found ablack BB-gun pistol that is a replica of a Beretta pistol, and recovered a tanjacket, camouflage ski mask and red beanie from a nearby dumpster.
Although he was wearing a mask, store employees identified Yatesby his clothing, build, distinctive eyebrows and tattoos.
The case was handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Jose Leon of theDistrict Attorney’s Special Prosecution Unit in Criminal Court Division 8 whichseeks maximum sentencing for repeat felony offenders.
