Anthony Cloud
Staff Writer
The man who robbed the Middlesboro First State Financial bank was sentenced earlier in the week after pleading guilty to a lesser charge. Gregory Lee Jackson, 31 of Manchester, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery.
Jackson was sentenced to 10 years in the penitentiary at a place designated by the Department of Corrections.
Jackson was indicted on first-degree robbery charges about three months ago. On the day of the robbery, Jackson entered the bank and handed one of the tellers a note demanding money and said he had a gun.
When the teller opened the drawer, Jackson reached across the counter and took all the bills from the drawer, and then left the bank in a blue Ford pickup truck.
Approximately an hour after the robbery, Lt. David Buis spotted a vehicle matching the description of the truck traveling north on U.S. 25E. Buis, Lt. Tom Busic, officer Justin Barton and Chief Jeff Sharpe stopped the truck about 2 miles north of the city.
Police said evidence linking the driver to the robbery was discovered and he was taken into custody. Upon further investigation, officers recovered the cash, merchandise purchased between the time of the robbery and the arrest and clothing worn during the incident. Busic said he also recovered the note in the trash at a business near the bank.
A woman involved in the robbery at the home of Kelsey Smith in Pineville was also formally sentenced earlier in the week. Whitney Cain, 20 of Pineville, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery. She was sentenced to six years in the penitentiary.
Three of the four individuals allegedly involved in the robbery have pleaded guilty. Demetrice Osborne, 28, and Joshua Hubbard, 23, pleaded guilty in October. There is a bench warrant out for the arrest of the forth suspect, Whitney Brock.
Brock allegedly came to Smith’s residence and bummed a cigarette. A short time later, three individuals came into the residence and held down Smith and Margaret Inman, assaulted them and took Smith’s purse, according to the victims. Brock has been indicted and is awaiting court appearance.
Trooper Tyson Lawson of the Kentucky State Police spotted the white car used in the robbery in the Wallsend community. He found Smith’s wallet along with money and credit cards in the vehicle, according to Lawson.
Lawson arrested Brock, Cain and Osborne at an apartment in Wallsend. After the investigation continued, it was discovered that the owner and driver of the getaway vehicle was Hubbard.
Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com or by phone at 606-248-1010, ext. 208.
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