A Fayette County jury on April 14 convicted 22-year-old Joseph Huggins of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in the May 2021 robbery of a man who was moving a family’s belongings from Arizona to their new home in Tyrone. Huggins received a 20-year sentence.
District Attorney Marie Broder said the Fayette jury convicted Huggins, of Charleston, S.C., on the charges of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Superior Court Judge Scott Ballard sentenced Huggins to 15 years on the armed robbery charge and five years on the firearm charge, for a total of 20 years to serve in prison, said Broder.
Assistant District Attorney Monique Harris tried the case for the state.
Noting the specifics of the case, Broder said the Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies on May 28, 2021 responded to a residence in Tyrone and made contact with the victim of the armed robbery.
“The victim is a truck driver, and was driving a truck with furniture from Arizona to a family’s new residence in Tyrone. He needed additional help to unload the trailer, so the dispatch company sent two additional people, one of them being the defendant. The defendant and his co-defendant were hired from Craigslist to help with the job.
“The defendants asked the victim to go with them to procure additional equipment for the job. While in the car, the defendants pointed two guns at the victim and took everything he had on him, including money, identification, a phone, credit cards and his Bluetooth earbuds. They then kicked the victim out of the car, leaving him on the side of the road. The victim walked two miles back to the original address in Tyrone, and the police were called,” Broder said.
Sheriff’s investigators identified Defendant Huggins and his co-defendant as the perpetrators of the crime. They were arrested and brought to trial. Defendant Huggins was convicted after three days of trial. The co-defendant will be tried later, said Broder.
“I am so proud of ADA Harris and the sheriff’s office detective for their hard work this week.” Broder said of the trial. “In her closing, ADA Harris told the jury that ‘The United States of America is the land of opportunity, and the victim in the case today was taking advantage of the opportunities by working hard and providing for his family. On May 28, the defendant took advantage of him.’ I echo her sentiments. Fayette County citizens sent the message today that they will not tolerate violent crime happening here. Thank you to the jurors for that message. We will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to destroy our peace here.”
As reported by The Citizen at the time, Huggins and 22-year-old Dimitrius Scott were arrested in the case.
Joseph Huggins. Photo/Fayette County Jail.
This THUG got exactly what he deserved! I hope that HE and the yet to be tried and convicted accomplice BOTH ROT IN PRISON! There is now one less DISEASE SPREADING COCKROACH running wild out on the streets of Fayette Country! Well done Law Enforcement and Judicial Officers!