Darien Blake Clay
A youth who has been charged in several local robberies was given a 13-year sentence after pleading guilty on two of the holdups.
Darien Blake Clay, 21, appeared before Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.
He must serve the first eight years of the sentence at 85 percent prior to parole consideration. The remaining five years are at 30 percent prior to parole consideration.
Clay was among three youths charged with the armed robbery of Tennessee Title Loans on Highway 58 in March 2011 when he was 18.
Prosecutor Lance Pope said he was also charged in the holdup on the following day.
Arrested for aggravated robbery at the Tennessee Title Loans were Clay, Dejuan Davis and Demarcus Isiah Rogers.
Police said they planned to rob the title loan firm at 5040 Highway 58 "for gas money."
They drove by the business twice, casing it out, then let Clay out. He hid in some woods waiting for employees to close the business.
Clay then approached two employees and pointed a gun at them. He demanded money.
He took $150 and two credit cards from the employees.
Clay then telephoned for the other two to pick him up down the street. They then divided the money three ways.
Rogers and Davis dropped Clay off at his home. They then used one of the stolen credit cards to put gas in both of their vehicles at the Exxon on Highway 58.
Police said Rogers gave a taped statement.
Clay was picked out of a photo lineup as the robber with the gun.
Clay had been set to go to trial on Tuesday.