Jury hands down guilty verdict in convenience store robbery

NEW BOSTON, Texas — A Bowie County jury convicted a man Thursday of aggravated robbery in connection with a September 2018 holdup of a Texarkana convenience store.

Craig Eugene Taylor, 23, was found guilty of pointing a gun Sept. 19, 2018, at a clerk at EZ Mart located at 1603 Robison Road in Texarkana, Texas. The punishment phase of Taylor’s trial began late Thursday and is expected to continue Friday morning.

Fifth District Judge Bill Miller placed the jury in an evening recess at about 5 p.m.

Taylor did not get away with any cash during the holdup. The clerk was able to activate an alarm which caused him to flee without taking anything.

As police were searching the area of the robbery for a suspect, a second 911 call reporting a robbery of a convenience store less than two miles away was received. Investigators believe Taylor made the second call to create a diversion.

A backpack containing a cell phone and clothing from the robbery was recovered by police. A shirt in the backpack was found to have traces of Taylor’s DNA.

Aggravated robbery is typically punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison. Because of a prior felony conviction, Taylor faces an enhanced punishment range of 15 to 99 or life.

A verdict in the punishment phase of Taylor’s trial is expected Friday.

Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter is prosecuting Taylor. Taylor is represented by the Bowie County Public Defender’s Office.