Two DCHS students arrested at school after a city police investigation determined that they forced their way into a Smithville woman’s home and robbed and assaulted her last September have pled guilty in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Tony Starks, Jr., 17, and Robert Brian Callahan both pled guilty to robbery and kidnapping Monday, receiving a four-year sentence to serve on each charge. The sentences are set to run consecutively, for a total of eight years for each young man.
According to Lieutenant Matt Holmes of the Smithville Police Department, the two teenage boys entered a woman’s residence around 11:30 p.m. in September 2013. Holmes said that the victim, who lived alone, heard a noise behind her home, and when she cracked open the door to investigate the two teenagers, who were wearing hockey masks and brandishing razor knives, forced their way into the house.
One of the young men allegedly tackled the woman, pepper sprayed her multiple times, and tried to insert a wash cloth into her mouth to keep her quiet. The other invader reportedly ransacked the home, stealing a .38 caliber revolver and other items with a total value of approximately $600.
The juveniles were remanded into state custody at the Cookeville Juvenile Detention Center, and were named in petitions accusing them of committing delinquent acts. They faced charges of especially aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and felony theft.
The victim of the attack reportedly suffered cuts, scrapes, and bruises, but was not seriously injured, and declined medical attention. Police said she was traumatized, and suffered from the affects of the pepper spray for some time after the incident.
The young men apparently did not use the razor knives in the attack. Holmes said the investigation traced the hockey masks worn by the duo to Walmart, where they had been purchased.
The two boys, who apparently live together but are not related, were taken out of class and arrested the next day, and the hockey masks and stolen revolver were allegedly found hidden in the attic of their home. Holmes said pepper spray was also found at the home.
Meanwhile, Charles Reagan, 33, pled guilty to aggravated assault, receiving a six-year suspended sentence after serving one year. He was given credit for 125 days. Reagan was co-indicted with Amanda Gail Maxwell Bain, 30, in April, for aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, and theft over $1,000. in the robbery and kidnapping of an elderly man.
Bain pled guilty to robbery and kidnapping in October, and received a four-year sentence in each case as a range one offender. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to another TDOC sentence against her. She was given jail credit from November 6, 2013 to October 3, 2014.
Authorities said the pair forced the 81-year old victim to withdraw money from his bank account at knifepoint.
Bain and Reagan were charged with aggravated kidnapping and theft over $1,000, while Maxwell faced additional charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated assault. Detective Holmes said Maxwell phoned the victim at his McMinnville home and invited him to visit her at her Fisher Avenue residence.
When the man entered the residence, Maxwell allegedly attacked him from behind and forced him into the passenger seat of his 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix. Police said that Maxwell then drove to two different banks in Smithville and forced the victim to withdraw cash from his account.
Holmes said $300 was believed to have been withdrawn.
Reagan allegedly joined Maxwell soon after the two local bank visits, and the pair then reportedly held the victim at knifepoint and drove him to McMinnville. Police said that just after the three arrived in McMinnville the victim escaped from the car when it stopped at a traffic light.
Maxwell, who was allegedly behind the wheel at the time, apparently left the vehicle and attempted to catch the victim.
Police believe that Reagan was in the back seat at the time, got behind the wheel and drove the car away, leaving his alleged victim and accomplice in McMinnville.
The elderly victim reportedly reached a phone and dialed 911. McMinnville officials then notified local police of the incident.
Police said they believe Reagan abandoned the vehicle and hid it somewhere between McMinnville and Smithville. At last report the car had not been located.
Both Maxwell and Reagan apparently got rides back to Smithville and booked a room at a local motel to avoid arrest. Police said the two stayed the night at the Motel, then returned to Maxwell's residence the next day.
Holmes said that is where they were found and brought in for questioning.
The victim reportedly suffered minor injuries while making his escape, but was not seriously harmed.
The case was investigated by Holmes and Detective Brandon Donnell of the Smithville Police Department.
