HARDEE’S ARMED ROBBERS GO TO PRISON

March 3, 2010
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Anderson, SC. In proceedings held in Anderson County General Sessions Court today and yesterday, Xavier Brown and Devon Maddox both pled guilty to 3 counts of Armed Robbery, 3 counts of Kidnapping, and 2 counts of Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill. The State recommended a 20 year sentence for each defendant. Neither defendant had a prior record. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Xavier Brown to 20 years suspended to 15 years and 5 years probation on each charge. Devon Maddox was sentenced to 25 years suspended to 17 years and 5 years probation on the Armed Robbery charges, 17 years on each Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill and 17 years on each Kidnapping charge. All sentences are to be served concurrently. 

On May 10, 2009, Anderson city police officers responded to the Hardees at 100 Fritz Drive in Anderson County in reference to a an armed robbery and shooting. When they arrived, officers learned that two masked men armed with a handgun entered the business after closing around 11:40 pm through a door left open while the manager was outside. Brown, an employee of the restaurant since December of 2008, took the manager back inside, pointing a gun at his head. Brown then ordered the manager and two other employees to get inside the cooler. Maddox took the gun and and began shooting into the cooler. Only the manager escaped injury. Both of the other employees received multiple gunshot wounds. The robbers took the money from the safe and then fled on foot. Although the gunmen were masked, one of the employees was able to identify Brown’s voice.

During the early investigation, both Brown and Maddox stated that they were in Georgia at the time of the incident. However, Brown’s cell phone records indicated that he was only a few blocks away from Hardees during the time surrounding the robbery. Maddox subsequently gave a statement to police detailing the planning and execution of the crime. Maddox stated that during the robbery he was using his finger as a gun until Brown handed him the gun after retrieving the money from the safe and told him to shoot. Maddox stated, “I just started shooting. I shot until I didn’t hear any noise.”