Jury convicts man in Gadsden Robbery

Brandon Hunter

A 21-year-old man is facing a long prison sentence after an Etowah county jury convicted him Wednesday on two counts of first degree robbery in connection with the 2010 robbery of an East Gadsden business. The jury deliberated for about 40 minutes before returning the guilty verdict against Brandon Arlawndo Hunter. He was charged with the Nov. 22, 2010 robbery , of two employees at Victory Fuels on East Broad Street. Hunter and another man entered the store about 11 p.m., and during the robbery, Hunter beat a clerk in the head with a pistol. She was treated at the scene by medics. Both men wore masks but someone identified Hunter before he pulled the mask over his face. He was arrested Dec. 9, 2010, and a few days later was charged with attempted murder in the Dec. 2, 2010, shooting of an East Gadsden man. Hunter will be sentenced Sept. 19. He faces a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison on each count.
District attorney Jimmy Harp commend the witnesses in this case for having the courage to come forward and testify,” harp said that the defendant and several of his associates exerted tremendous pressure in an attempt to intimidate critical witnesses in this case. The witnesses came forward despite the threats, took the stand, faced the defendant and told the truth. They did so at great personal sacrifice and risk.