Nearly

seven years after receiving a life sentence for a number

of armed robberies in Fayette and Spalding counties,

Terry Anthony Sampson has been denied parole, according

to a statement released last week by the state Board of

Pardons and Paroles.

Sampson

robbed four small stores at gunpoint in June and July of

1991 - including the Kwickie Food Store on Crosstown

Drive in Peachtree City and the Phillips 66 gas station

on Ga. Highway 92 South in Fayetteville - according

to reports.

He was

found guilty of two counts of armed robbery in connection

with the two incidents in Fayette County. He also was

found guilty of aggravated assault, kidnaping and

possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime

for his robbery spree.

According

to Parole Board chairman Walter Ray, the nature of the

crime was the reason for denial of parole.

"A

woman was injured and another kidnaped and nearly

raped," said Ray. "Our communities must be

protected from criminals like Sampson. The board will not

consider parole until May 2007, the maximum number of

years allowed by law."

Georgia

statute mandates that cases involving life sentences be

reviewed at specific intervals, according to the state,

but that in no way implies that parole will be granted.

Sampson is

serving his sentence at the Dodge State Prison in

Chester.

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