Three accused in string of 26 armed robberies plead not guilty

Three of the four men accused in a string of 26 business armed robberies dating back to December pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Jimmy Ray Walker Jr., 19, Marquell Edsean Watson, 21, and Domanique Daquan Brown, 20, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges stemming from nearly half of the incidents, but Mark Gardner, 21, posted bond prior to the hearing.

Police Maj. Gil Slouchick said detectives expect to make more arrests in connection with the holdups.

“These individuals were in what we determined to be an armed robbery crew,” the major said. “They were either by themselves or with each other so each individual wasn’t in every robbery.”

Gunshots were fired in at least three of the armed robberies at the Summit on Williams Way, One Stop Store on Buena Vista Road and Hungry Howie’s on Schomburg Road. No one was injured during the incidents, but minor injuries were reported during some of other incidents, officials said.

Six of the detectives working the rash of incidents appeared before the court, each presenting one or two cases.

According to their testimonies, all four suspects were involved in two holdups at Econo Lodge on Victory Drive and the one at the Subway on Victory Drive.

Brown allegedly served as the getaway driver in those incidents as well as the armed robberies that Watson and Walker committed at the Papa John’s Pizza and Hawthorn Suites on Victory Drive.

Police said Watson and Walker were identified as the only assailants in multiple crimes, including the March 9 theft at the Candlewood Suites on Victory Drive, the March 28 incident at the Family Dollar on Cusseta Road, the April 7 holdup at the Motel 6 on Victory Drive and the April 15 armed robbery at the Crown Gas Station on South Lumpkin Road.

Officials said Walker was alone when he committed the March 11 holdup at the Family Dollar, but he was with another individual when he did the April 11 armed robbery at the Hampton Inn. Officials have issued arrest warrants for another suspect but have yet to release his name.

In arrest reports on the suspects, police said arrests were made possible after interviewing the subjects and confronting them with video images of crimes along with clothes seized from some of their residences and a vehicle. The arrests were made after an investigation that lasted several weeks.

Though none of the suspects testified in court, authorities said each of admitted to their involvement in some of the incidents during police interviews.

Watson pleaded not guilty to seven counts of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of attempted armed robbery and seven counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was denied bonds on each charge aside from the attempt and weapon charges, which resulted in bonds totaling $300,0000.

Walker pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of armed robbery, six counts of aggravated assault and seven counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was denied bonds on each charge expect for the possession charges in which he was granted bonds totaling $300,000.

Brown pleaded not guilty to two counts of armed robbery and one count each of criminal attempt armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of firearm during the commission of the crime. He was denied bond on every charge aside from the possession and attempt charges where he was granted bonds totaling $50,000.

Each cases was bound over to Superior Court.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 2:09 PM with the headline "Three accused in string of 26 armed robberies plead not guilty."