Man sentenced in jewelry store robbery

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Tennessee man last week became the first of four defendants to be sentenced in connection with a 2009 armed robbery at a Cape Girardeau jewelry store.

Kevin Stitt was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison for his role in the robbery. He also must pay $93,461 in restitution, online federal court records show.

Stitt pleaded guilty in December to one count each of interference with commerce by threat or violence and aiding and abetting possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

He and three other people -- Darryl House, Charla Dinkins and Keyessence Fountain -- are accused of traveling from Memphis, Tenn., to Cape Girardeau to rob the Jayson Jewelers store at 97 N. Kingshighway.

The four initially faced state charges, which later were dropped when the case went to federal court.

A probable-cause affidavit filed in the state case in May 2012 indicated DNA evidence implicated Stitt, who admitted he and a woman posed as a couple shopping for wedding rings before House came into the store, at which point Stitt handcuffed the clerk, duct-taped her eyes shut and put her in a closet.

An April 7 news release by the U.S. attorney's office stated Fountain, House and Stitt took jewelry and cash from the store, and Dinkins drove them back to Memphis.

Earlier this year, Dinkins and Fountain pleaded guilty to charges identical to Stitt's, online federal court records show.

On April 7, a federal jury found House guilty of the same charges.

Fountain is awaiting sentencing in May, and Dinkins and House are set for sentencing in June.

House faces a maximum punishment of life in prison, the U.S. attorney's office reported the day of his conviction.