A man who unsuccessfully tried to rob the Ellis Pottery garden store on Summerhill Road in Texarkana, Texas, last November is now accused of trying unsuccessfully to escape from the Bowie County jail.
Brandon Lee Staggs, 26, was allegedly “chipping away” at the wall in a shower area of the jail with escape as his goal, according to a probable cause affidavit. A tip from other inmates allegedly led to the discovery of a hole in the shower area and Staggs’ identification as the alleged culprit.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Staggs turned down a 40-year offer July 25 from Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter. Carter handles felony cases filed in the 5th District Court of Bowie County over which Bill Miller presides.
Staggs allegedly tried to hold two Ellis Pottery employees at gunpoint at about 8 p.m. Nov. 25. The employees, one of whom had a concealed carry license and his own handgun, wrestled with Staggs. A couple of rounds from the employee’s pistol were discharged during the confrontation but nobody was injured.
When police arrived, Staggs and one of the employees were still struggling. Texarkana, Texas, police quickly took Staggs into custody and arrested his girlfriend, 34-year-old Toni Works, who was waiting in a car outside.
If found guilty of aggravated robbery, Staggs faces five to 99 years or life in prison and if convicted of trying to escape he faces six months to two years in a state jail.
Staggs is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on the robbery charge and a preindictment hearing on the attempted escape before Miller next week. His case is set for jury selection in October.
