February 17, 2015 | A jury was selected for the trial of a Bowie County man accused of five felonies on Tuesday, February 17, 2015.
Richard Taylor Darby III is accused of five different felonies – three counts of aggravated robbery, evading arrest, and theft of property greater than $1500 but less than $20,000. Darby plead guilty to each of the five felonies, but decided to let a jury decide his punishment. Darby also has filed the proper paperwork to qualify for probation, Chad Crowl, Darby’s attorney. The case is before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart.
Samantha Oglesby, assistant district attorney for the State of Texas, and Chad Crowl, attorney for the Defendant, asked the jury pool a variety of questions to ensure an unbiased jury is selected to determine the fate of Darby.
The following accounts were taken from Probable Cause affidavits, and allege Darby committed the following:
Aggravated Robbery #1: On February 4, 2015, a probable cause affidavit alleges Nash Police Department responded to a robbery at Dollar General on New Boston Road. The victim stated that she was robbed at gunpoint where the suspect “demanded money from both the safe and register.” Nash PD reviewed a video of the robbery. A search warrant was later executed for the residence of Darby and Nash PD found a pair of shoes and shirt that Darby was suspected to have worn during the robbery. A bank bag that matched the bank bag in the video was also found.
Aggravated Robbery #2: On February 7, 2015, a probable cause affidavit alleges Darby committed an aggravated robbery in Wake Village. A 94 old woman was unloading her items when a man came around the corner of a garage and grabbed her purse as she was screaming. Darby then put his hand on the victim’s mouth and told her to hush and pushed her over the trunk of the car. A witness stated the the suspect had a blue and white item covering the suspect’s face. A purse was found in Gold’s Gym parking lot wrapped with a bandana and shirt. “[A] a tag was stapled to the bottom portion from where it had been cleaned. The tag said “Richard Darby”.
Evading in a Vehicle: Another probable cause affidavit alleges that Darby evaded arrest and took police on a pursuit after he committed the theft to the purse in Wake Village. A Nash, Texas Police Department Officer responded to robbery. The officer activated the emergency lights to stop the vehicle, but “Darby did not stop and began to accelerate his vehicle as he turned East on E. Front Street.” Then, the car ran a stop sign at Victory Street and College. The pursuit turned down a dead end street and went “through a small field behind several houses.” “He then proceeded to drive onto Homer Ford road where Chief Dial and I lost sight of him and the vehicle,” alleges the probable cause affidavit.
Theft of Property over $1,500 but Under $20,000: Darby is accused of stealing a four-wheeler from a carport on January 23, 2015.
Aggravated Robbery #3: On January 29, 2014, Darby is accused of entering a business at 3400 New Boston Road. The suspect demanded money and cigarellos, then pointed a gun at the teller. Soon after, the suspect fled the store. The probable cause affidavit alleges that Darby later confessed to this robbery.
