Macon – A Warner Robins man struck by a van in 2017 after he robbed a man at gunpoint was sentenced to prison Monday.
Phillip Elbert Griffin, 19, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to 20 years, with the first dozen in prison. He entered his plea in Bibb County Superior Court.
If the case had gone to trial, prosecutor John Regan would have presented evidence showing:
A store employee was making a deposit at Wells Fargo, 6005 Zebulon Road, on Nov. 14, 2017, when a masked man demanded money from him at gunpoint. The victim handed over the bank deposit and his wallet. The gunman left.
The victim drove around the bank while trying to get help and encountered the gunman again. The gunman fired a shot at the victim’s van. The victim ducked down and his van continued to move forward until it struck a tree.
When Bibb County deputies arrived, they found Griffin next to the van with a broken leg. The victim’s wallet and a handgun were on the ground near him. He also had money from the bank deposit.
Speaking after the plea, District Attorney David Cooke said, “Any time someone points a gun at a person, it can turn deadly. I hope Mr. Griffin spends his next 12 years in jail reflecting on this dangerous choice, and that he makes better ones when he’s released.”
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Contact: Amy Leigh Womack
478-621-6179 (office)
478-319-2529 (cell)