Man gets 30 years for store robbery

Pistol discovered in nearby shed

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— The second of two men accused of robbing and pistol-whipping a Sherwood store clerk before instigating a shootout with an off-duty police officer accepted a 30-year prison sentence after prosecutors announced the recent discovery of potential evidence - a pistol hidden in a storage shed.

On Thursday, Dexter Harmon, 22, of Little Rock, went to Pulaski County Circuit Court complaining that prosecutors were taking too long to bring him to trial on charges of aggravated robbery, theft and committing a terroristic act.

The trial had already been reset once on a defense motion, and Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Waymack told Circuit Judge Chris Piazza that she needed a delay for DNA and ballistics testing on a pistol found last weekend - about eight months after clerk Fahmi “Tommy” Alghaithi was clubbed during a robbery of the One Stop convenience store at 3311 E. Kiehl Ave.

The gun, wrapped in a red bandana, was discovered Saturday in a shed in the yard of a home through which the robbers had run after trying to shoot it out with the pursuing officer, Waymack said. The homeowner was cleaning up when he found the weapon, which appeared to have been fired three times, she said.

The robbers’ getaway car was followed by off-duty Sherwood patrolman Jeremy Farquharson who was on his way to work and driving his personal vehicle. Farquharson had seen Alghaithi holding his head outside the store as the robbers drove away.

Waymack said the robbers suddenly pulled over in the middle of the street and opened fire on Farquharson who took cover behind his car. He identified himself as an officer during a pause in the gunfire but the robbers resumed shooting and Farquharson exchanged some gunfire before they ran off.

The robbery was caught on video and Harmon was arrested four days later, confessing to the robbery, Waymacktold the judge. The second robber, Corddearo Baker of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to the robbery and terroristic act charges in March, with the promise of testifying against Harmon, in exchange for a 30-year sentence.

Harmon reconsidered his demand for a trial within an hour of hearing about the pending tests on the weapon.

He pled guilty to the aggravated robbery and theft charges but entered a no-contest plea to the terroristic act count. Both men will be eligible for parole after serving 21 years in prison.

Arkansas, Pages 13 on 05/26/2012

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