Two more sentenced in armed robbery case

Two armed robbery suspects were found guilty by a Cherokee County General Sessions Court jury Wednesday.

Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes sentenced Jonathan Leon Simpson, 21, of Gaffney, to 20 years in prison while Marcellous Obryan Knuckles, 21, also of Gaffney, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

A third codefendant, 17- year-old Laquinton Obrian Foster of Gaffney pleaded guilty to armed robbery Monday and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the minimum sentence for armed robbery. Hayes told Foster he received the minimum sentence because he confessed and cooperated with police when arrested.

Authorities said Simpson, Knuckles and Foster robbed the Eastside Saveway, 302 Wilkinsville Hwy., Gaffney, at gunpoint at 7:15 p.m. Jan. 18. Foster admitted to jumping over a counter and onto the store clerk while demanding money. Simpson carried the gun, which later was discovered to be a BB gun, while Knuckles forced another employee to the ground, according to testimony.

Both Knuckles and Simpson also face four counts of 2nd-degree burglary and one count of trespassing in separate cases, according to the Cherokee County Detention Center. Simpson also must answer to four Magistrate Court bench warrants and one General Sessions bench warrant.