Teen arrested for alleged robbery, battery

A local teenager was arrested on felony warrants Tuesday for allegedly punching a man, fracturing his jaw, and stealing his phone last week.

Sharif Keon Akins, 18, who lists no current address, was taken into custody around 9 a.m. at a residence in the 400 block of Henry Street and charged with robbery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and second-degree battery, punishable by up six years.

Akins, who was initially held on a $12,500 bond, pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday during a video arraignment in Garland County District Court. His bond was set at $7,500, and Judge Ralph Ohm issued a no-contact order in relation to the victim in the

case. A felony review hearing is set for Oct. 1.

According to the probable cause affidavit, a local man told Hot Springs police that a man he knows as Marquis Akins had punched him and stole his Samsung cellphone at around 1 a.m. Aug. 1.

He said he let Akins use his phone while they were walking around the area of Maurice and Moore streets. He said that, when he asked for his phone back, Akins punched him and left with his phone.

The victim showed police a social media page belonging to Marquis Akins and stated that was the man who robbed him.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where an X-ray showed he had a fractured jaw that will require his jaw to be wired shut until it heals.

At the time, no record of Marquis Akins could be located, the affidavit said.

On Aug. 2, Detective Scott Lampinen interviewed the victim and obtained more information about the suspect, including that he often “hangs out” with a white female with short blonde hair along the Hot Springs Creek area.

Based on the information provided, Lampinen determined Sharif Akins, who matched the description of the suspect, had been detained on July 26 in the company of a woman with short blonde hair. He compared photos of Akins on file to the social media photos of Marquis Akins and determined they were the same man.

At the same time, the victim called Lampinen and told him he had just spotted the man who robbed him walking in the area of Hot Springs Creek by Transportation Depot. He provided a clothing description and Lampinen canvassed the area and located Akins walking in the area with the same woman he had been detained with earlier.

A warrant was later issued for Akins’ arrest. Akins was previously arrested April 21 on a felony charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. On June 11, he pleaded no contest to an amended misdemeanor count of possession and was sentenced to one year in jail with all but 52 days suspended.

He was given credit for time served so he was released a short time later.