Waymon Newton was found guilty Wednesday of strong arm robbery and not guilty of kidnapping in an incident that occurred Sept. 30, 2014.
After final arguments Wednesday morning, the jury unanimously decided the State proved its case that Newton committed armed robbery After the verdict, Newton was sentenced to 15 years - the maximum penalty for strong arm robbery, according to Assistant Solicitor David Miller.
On Sept. 30, 2014, Eartha Herrin was working at Bryant Auto Sales in Aiken when Newton came to the lot and asked to look at a Dodge Durango. He asked for information about the vehicle when he robbed Herrin at knife point and took her purse that contained her personal information and her checkbook.
On Oct. 3, 2014, Newton had a wreck on Whiskey Road, and fled the scene. Later, police found him hiding "a few miles down the road," according to reports. Police observed Newton fit the description of the man who robbed the auto sales store, and arrested him.
David Miller with the Solicitor's office represented the State in the trial, and called Herrin, store owner Eric Bryant and Aiken County Sheriff's investigators Stacey Prince and Chuck Cain to the stand to testify.
Newton testified that Herrin was his drug dealer, and he was acting as a middle man to buy cocaine from her. He added he came to the car lot in search of drugs he was owed, or money to make up for the value. He also said Herrin gave him six checks as collateral until proper payment could be made.
He said the two of them fought, and he took her purse.
He said he never threatened her, and never laid his hands on her.
In her closing arguments, defense attorney Wallis Alves said there were two sides to every story.
"How are you going to decide who the criminal is?" she asked the jurors. "Think about Anna Gristina." Anna Gristina was a soccer mom who was accused of running a prostitution ring in 2012.
"It happens every day," Alves said. "Which is the more credible version of events?"
Miller responded with his closing arguments. "A drug dealer got up and called Herrin a drug dealer," he said. "Today, his attorney compared Herrin to a prostitute."
Miller said Newton saw the evidence that was against him and said he (Newton) had to come up with a plan that would help defend himself against every piece of evidence presented.
Miller also asked the jury to consider if Herrin was such a criminal mastermind, why would she just give six checks away?
"She is not a drug dealer, and not a criminal mastermind," he said. "She was doing her job, and she was robbed."
Will Whaley is the crime and court reporter for the Aiken Standard. He is a native of Fayette, Alabama and graduated from the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama with a degree in journalism.