Two just-released felons
face more robbery cases
• Spiro John Cothron and Jerry Lynn Williams face separate armed robbery charges in Thanksgiving weekend cases. Both were released from prison within the last seven weeks after serving nearly six years on non-connected armed robberies.
By BOB HIGH
Staff writer
Little did law enforcement officers realize last weekend that two armed robberies of local stores by separate suspects were going to bring two Whiteville men together again. Events during the Thanksgiving weekend joined them for at least the fourth time in the last six years.
On Oct. 23, 2000, Spiro John Cothron, 35, was sent to prison on a conviction of armed robbery. He was released this year on Nov. 11.
On the same day in 2000, Jerry Lynn Williams, 42, was sent to prison on a conviction of armed robbery. He was released this year on Oct. 6.
Cothron was arrested on Friday, Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving, and charged with using a pistol the same day to rob the Family Dollar store.
Williams was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with using a knife at 3:05 p.m. to rob the Mystik convenience store at the intersection of N.C. highways 130 and 905. Williams is also charged with attempted robbery of the Dollar General store along U.S. 701 Bypass here at 2:35 p.m. – 30 minutes before the Mystik incident.
Both men are being held under substantial bonds, and their cases last weekend are apparently not connected. Their convictions on the same day in 2000 also involved separate robberies.
Cothron’s arrest was reported in Monday’s issue of The News Reporter. This was before the odd combination of facts involving Cothron and Williams – still being sought Monday morning -- came to light.
Seeks addiction help
Williams, a 42-year-old from Marlowe Road, Tabor City, is the man Deputy Sgt. Roy Dale Thomas said he observed at the magistrate’s jail office Saturday morning.
Thomas said he was called to the jail after Williams told the magistrate he felt very bad and needed help with his drug problem.
Williams didn’t want to furnish any information about himself, Thomas noted. The deputy went to a Buick car Williams said he drove to the jail, and found an ID card with Williams’ name.
Thomas said Williams was sent to Columbus Regional Healthcare for an evaluation. However, Williams didn’t wait to be seen by doctors and left the premises.
At 2:30 p.m. a clerk at the Whiteville Dollar General along U.S. 701 Bypass was grabbed and threatened by a man who used a knife in an attempt to rob the store of cash. Police records show the suspect left without obtaining any money.
Thirty minutes later, at the Mystik convenience store at the intersection of N.C. highways 130 and 905, a man used a knife to rob the clerk of cash and two packs of cigarettes.
Description fits
Thomas said the clerk’s description of the robber was so good he realized immediately it was the man the deputy saw at the magistrate’s office seeking help for his drug problem
Deputy Thomas said he found a Buick parked on the shoulder of N.C. 905 about two miles south of the Mystik store – the same car Thomas saw at the jail Saturday morning.
Thomas said Williams was apparently given a ride by someone and was not found until Monday afternoon when several officers descended on a mobile home along Ladybug Lane off Miller Road in the Tabor City area.
Thomas reported Williams ran from the rear door of the home and was quickly caught.
Williams was sent to prison on Oct. 23, 2000 after he was convicted of armed robbery in a case involving theft of cash on Dec. 20, 1999 from a Guideway store by using a razor blade as a weapon.
Cothron was sent to prison in 2000 for one of two robberies he committed on Jan. 17, 2000. He used a knife to rob a man at a bank ATM machine, plus used a knife to rob Hill’s Food Store in South Whiteville the same night.
When Cothron pleaded guilty six years ago, one of the armed robbery counts was dismissed. He was sentenced to a minimum of six years and 10 months, with credit for time served waiting for his day in court.
Williams pleaded the same day as Cothron and was given a minimum term of six years and eight months, also with credit for time served in jail.
The first time law enforcement knows about them being together was in the county jail here in 2000, both awaiting their plea deals. The second time they were together was in Superior Court in 2000, the day they both agreed to plea bargains.
The third time they were together was while serving their prison terms. Both men were released this year from the state prison in Craven County. The fourth time they have been together is now as they are both jailed here to await consequences of their robbery cases.
