Chattanooga man sentenced in 2012 armed robberies

photo Desmond Turner

A 27-year-old Chattanooga man was sentenced in federal court today to nine years, three months after a string of three 2012 robberies.

Desmond Labarr Turner admitted he'd robbed the Hardee's at 2302 E. 23rd St. on Oct. 25, 2012 when he pleaded guilty in November.

As part of a plea agreement, federal prosecutor Chris Poole agreed to dismiss charges involving two other robberies police charged Turner with that happened less than two weeks after the Hardee's incident.

Chattanooga police saw Turner in a black mask wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and black tennis shoes on video footage at the Hardee's. The camera also captured his vehicle, which was missing a bumper.

That evidence helped connect him to an Oct. 27, 2012 robbery of the O'Reilly Auto Parts at 4400 Rossville Boulevard and the robbery of a Taco Bell at 7796 E. Brainerd Road on Nov. 5, 2012.

Two days after the last robbery police stopped Turner who said "I'm looking for my gun, I mean my papers," when questioned by an officer.

The officer searched Turner and the vehicle and found small bag of marijuana and a .32 caliber revolver.

On Dec. 5, 2012 a local resident saw footage of the Hardee's robbery on Crimestoppers and notified police about Turner's identity.

Turner was charged with the robberies on Dec. 7, 2012. He confessed to the Hardee's robbery and said the revolver was the weapon he'd used in the crime.

He still faces state charges on the robberies in Hamilton County Criminal Court. He's scheduled for a hearing on the state charges on March 5.

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