Pee Dee men plead guilty to armed robberies

From staff reports
Published: July 14, 2008

FLORENCE — Two of the three men indicted in connection with a series of armed robberies in Darlington have pleaded guilty in federal court to armed robbery and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to a press release issued by U.S. Attorney Walter Wilkins.

U.S. District Judge Terry L. Wooten accepted the pleas from 19-year-old Terrel Audre Lovelace of Bishopville and 20-year-old Eugene Sutton III of Darlington and will sentence them later.

The government and the defense stipulated in plea agreements that Lovelace should receive 22 years in prison and Sutton should receive 17 years in prison.

Lovelace and Sutton, along with 19-year-old Bernard Bostic of Darlington, were indicted in January in connection with the three armed robberies in September 2007, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On Sept. 7, 2007, Lovelace and Sutton were involved with two others in the armed robbery of the Spring Mart near Darlington High School. During the robbery, a co-defendant pointed a .38-caliber gun and hit the clerk in the head with the butt of the gun before leaving. The four split the $500 in cash they stole from the store.

On Sept. 9, 2007, Lovelace, Sutton and Bostic robbed a clerk and a customer at the I-20 Exxon, located at 460 Lamar Highway in Timmonsville, at gunpoint. During the robbery, Lovelace and Bostic brandished handguns, while Sutton remained as the lookout in the getaway car. The three split the $100 stolen from the store, according to Wilkins’ release.

On Sept. 17, 2007, Lovelace, Sutton, Bostic and two others robbed the Jin Jon Chinese restaurant on Pearl Street in Darlington at gunpoint.

Bostic, Sutton, Lovelace and a fourth suspect all were arrested by Sept. 26.

Each of the three suspects faced life in prison if convicted of the federal charges.

The disposition of the case against Bostic wasn’t available.

The crimes were investigated by the Darlington Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case as part of Project CeaseFire, an initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office targeting gun crimes.

Lovelace and Tyquan Rakim Jackson, 18, of Darlington also were charged with assault with intent to kill in connection with a Sept. 17, 2007, shooting on Court Street, according to Darlington police reports. Jackson also is charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in that incident.

In that case, two suspects shot at a 15-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and a 10-year-old girl, police reports show. The shooting is thought to be gang-related.