Three Manning men held since their arrests in March for their roles in the armed robbery of a 38-year-old Sumter man at a local gas station have all been sentenced in Clarendon County General Sessions Court.
Markel Antonio Dennis, 19, of 305 Major Drive in Manning, Tykeem Davon Bradley, 17, of 1383 Meagen Lane in Manning and Dominic Javon White, 17, of 504 S. Boundary St. in Manning, all pleaded guilty between May 9 and 12 to one count each of strong-arm robbery, receiving similar sentences of one year in prison, suspended to six months in prison and one year's probation.
The trio was originally charged March 18 with one count each of armed robbery and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, shortly after the holdup of a Sumter man at a gas station about 9:50 p.m. March 17.
According to reports from the Manning Police Department, the victim approached police at a gas station on Sunset Drive and Mill Street, saying he had been robbed at gunpoint and that the suspects had taken money and his cell phone.
“(The victim) told police that he was at the gas station because his tire was low on his car and he was about to put air in the tire,” reads a report from the Manning Police Department. “The passenger rear tire was visibly low in air. (He said) he had his hoodie over his head, checking the tire, when he was approached by three black males.”
The victim told police that the suspects pulled a “semi-automatic-type dark color or black handgun on him and pointed it at him,” according to reports, and that Dennis allegedly repeatedly told one of the suspects to shoot the victim.
Chief Blair Shaffer said the gun was actually a pellet gun. Ultimately, the victim gave the suspects all the money had had on him, though he was uncertain of the amount. He estimated he gave them between $50 and $80. He said one of the suspects entered his black BMW and took his black Samsung Straight Talk cell phone in a black and white skull case. The phone and case were valued at $150.
The victim said that the suspects also asked him for his jewelry, but were scared off by another vehicle coming through the area.
“He was able to identify two of the guys and within a few hours, we had arrest warrants and arrested them,” said Shaffer.
All three men had been held at the Clarendon County Detention Center without bond since their arrests.
