A man accused of robbing and kidnapping a railroad worker in 2015 could spend the next 20 years in prison.
Tyree Sparks, 23, pleaded guilty last week in Lowndes County Circuit Court to one count of armed robbery. He was sentenced to 25 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with five suspended.
Officers with the Columbus Police Department arrested Sparks in November 2015 after he allegedly held a C&G Railroad employee at gunpoint on 11th Street North and had the victim drive to an ATM and withdraw more than $100. After threatening to kill the victim and stealing his iPhone, Sparks let the victim go, Assistant District Attorney Lindsay Clemons said.
The victim identified Sparks as his assailant in a police line-up, Clemons said. Sparks was indicted on charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. The kidnapping and possession charges were dismissed as part of Sparks’ plea deal.
Less than a month after being arrested, Sparks was also identified as one of two suspects who robbed at gunpoint a couple walking downtown near Fred’s Discount Store.
Sparks kidnapped the railroad worker on Nov. 4 and robbed the couple on Nov. 8.
Though charged in the downtown armed robbery, as well, that charge was also dropped as part of the plea deal.
Convenience store robbery plea
Another Columbus man, 20-year-old Ziree Butler, also pleaded guilty to armed robbery last week. Butler was sentenced to 25 years, 15 to serve, for robbing Creek Stone Chevron in May 2016, Clemons said.
Butler was one of three suspects indicted in a series of armed robberies of area convenience stores at the time. Law enforcement identified Butler through fingerprints lifted from one of the crime scenes, Clemons said.
Attorney Steve Wallace, who represented both Sparks and Butler, could not be reached for comment by press time.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.