Century Man Guilty Of Armed Robbery, Could Face Two Life Sentences

December 11, 2010

moyes13.jpg

simmonsbust10.jpgA Century man has been found guilty of two counts of armed robbery with a firearm by an Escambia County Jury for the March 4, 2010, holdup of Moyes State Line Food Mart.

Shawn Demarcus Simmons is facing a 10 year mandatory minimum and a maximum of life in state prison on each count, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. Simmons, who was once named one of Escambia County’s most wanted criminals, will be sentenced December 29.

Simmons forced the store clerk at gunpoint to empty the cash register, and took several hundred of dollars in Florida Lottery funds and several lottery tickets. After robbing the clerk, Simmons allegedly robbed a customer at gunpoint.

moyes12.jpgK-9 units from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Century Correctional Institution joined Escambia County deputies and Flomaton Police Department officers in a lengthy manhunt for the suspect. The manhunt was centered in an area bounded by Highway 29, Old Flomaton Road, Highway 4 and the Alabama state line.

Less than two hours after the Moyes robbery, a resident just south of the convenience store called 911 to report that a black male wearing a dark colored hoodie jacket was standing at her door, covered in mud. The resident also described the man as having lips that were light in color and appeared to be burned.

‘Don’t you know me? Don’t you remember me? The police are after me’,” the suspect told the woman, according to the sheriff’s office report.

moyes111.jpgThe man reportedly asked the female if he could enter the house, but she refused and called for help. A black jacket was recovered by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician from behind the woman’s residence. Deputies called off the search about three hours after the robbery, unable to locate Simmons.

The woman at the house later identified Simmons from a photo line up as the man that was at her door. Another witness that was outside the store prior to the robbery also picked Simmons out of a photo line up.

Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers later named Simmons as one of Escambia County’s most wanted fugitives after he was accused of robbing and pistol-whipping a Century man. Simmons was also the subject of additional manhunts in Century and Brewton, Alabama.

Pictured top: Deputies investigate the March 4, 2010, armed robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century. Pictured middle inset: Tracking dogs are used to search for Simmons following a Century armed robbery. Pictured  bottom inset: A crime scene technician dusts the door of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century after a March 4 armed robbery.  NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

10 Responses to “Century Man Guilty Of Armed Robbery, Could Face Two Life Sentences”

  1. Gabe Simmons on December 17th, 2010 12:08 am

    How dare anyone come on here and judge my father’s parenting skills. Horrific, you really rubbed me the wrong way insulting my daddy. I am Shawn’s sister and our father is a loving, caring, and respectful man who is loved by many. My dad taught us right from wrong when we were young children, but it was up to us if we wanted to listen. No parent is perfect, so do not blame my father’s parenting skills. My father and I are all Shawn has and we love him dearly, but Shawn is a 30year old man who know knows right from wrong. His childhood wasn’t the best childhood, but that’s no excuse for his actions. There are plenty of men and women who have been through a lot more struggles than my brother growing up and they grew up to become productive people. My dad doesn’t judge us, but if we are doing something we shouldn’t do, he lets us know all of the possible consequences. It’s up to us if we listen or not. Don’t you ever judge my father’s parenting skills. When a child goes astray and you’ve done everything you thought was the right thing to do, the only thing you can do is pray, leave it in God’s hands and keep the Faith, which is what our dad is doing and has been doing for a long time. My father and I are sorry for the pain and fear he has caused people. My brother and I are all our father has, if we stopped loving Shawn because of sins, then the Lord would’ve been stopped loving each and every one of us long ago. Let the Father do His job. Only God can judge us!!!

  2. randy on December 15th, 2010 10:03 am

    I know this guy.. He hasnt been out of Fountain prison very long…. I guess the State of Alabama couldnt reform him..Good luck Florida..

  3. OMRBKH on December 14th, 2010 4:45 am

    @ Horrific. Would agree with part of your theory, but have to question another part. I can count 6 generations on one side of my family and 5 on the other who were taught to honor and listen to their parents as they were taught to love and respect each other, to love and enjoy being alone in the woods to commune with their own soul and with God, and be on the lookout for small game to add to the supper table. All did, yet from all those (and there were many) born into this family and tought proper use of a firearm, non were of a criminal mind. Luck? I doubt it!

    Yep, too many times children today are not given the basics!

  4. From century on December 11th, 2010 7:22 pm

    That was my sister n law he put the gun to glad she didnt get hurt

  5. Citizen X on December 11th, 2010 1:30 pm

    Judy, you can always count on some horrific and idiotic comments on here, and usually from the same people daily.

  6. PensacolaEd on December 11th, 2010 12:43 pm

    Horrific: What on earth does teaching kids about hunting, guns or killing small animals have to do with anything? It sounds like you’re blaming crime on people who grew up learning to hunt, the opposite is true. People who grow up learning about hunting and the outdoors are far less likely to turn into criminals like the scumbag in this story.

  7. Horrific! on December 11th, 2010 10:55 am

    A lot of ppl take exception to my statements that it all goes back to the parents
    Judy….but I have said it before and I will say it again….

    If children were talked to as much about good values, respect and drugs
    from the time they were old enough to speak as they are about guns,
    hunting, and killing small animals….most of the children we see on
    these boards even when their in their forties….at least would not be
    taking, making and selling drugs which results in robberies, murders
    and general mayhem., and lets not forget a little thing called a work ethic.

    Too many times Judy ….children were not given the basics.

    This is the same problem as the schools…too many times they didn’t get
    the basics….a little thing called the three R’s, and minus the basics at
    home and the basics at school…..what chance does a child have…………..

  8. JUDY MASEK on December 11th, 2010 10:03 am

    i have to take exception w/part of horrifics comment….it may not be that he “was not taught right from wrong” at all…there are plenty of people in prison that WERE taught right from wrong…they just made very bad choices…..like, possibly…getting themselves addicted to drugs, like crack…theyd sell their grandmother for $ to meet their drug habit…he, alone, deserves credit for his present dilemma.

  9. gott2sayit on December 11th, 2010 8:49 am

    Its a full time job around the Century / Flomaton area for for law enforcement..he needs to be put away for a long time…unless this is another case of the white police chasing down innocent blacks again

  10. Horrific! on December 11th, 2010 7:18 am

    Well lock him up and throw away the key!

    Another person that was not taught right from wrong and to not do drugs probably.

    Society doesn’t need another person on the streets who thinks the whole
    world owes him a living…..or his drugs…..whatever.