Teen gets 8-year sentence
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

An 18-year-old Gaffney man was sentenced Tuesday to eight years of imprisonment for his role in the armed stick-up of a pet store.

During an afternoon hearing before Circuit Judge James Lockemy, Ryan Daniel Townson pleaded guilty to charges of attempted armed robbery and fleeing and presenting a firearm. He was sentenced immediately afterwards.

Townson is one of three young men charged in the Dec. 18 attempted holdup of A-Pet-U-Bet pet store on West Floyd Baker Boulevard. Police allege Townson and another 18-year-old man entered the store while a juvenile served as a lookout.

Townson allegedly pointed a loaded gun at Barbara Golden, the 72-year-old owner of the store. But the robbers left empty-handed after being sprayed with a water hose and Golden made a grab for the gun.

A Gaffney police officer responding to the robbery attempt claimed Townson pointed the gun at him while Townson was fleeing on foot.

Prosecutors noted Townson will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence.