Mauldin Armed Robber Sentenced to Prison

A man charged with robbing the Family Dollar store in Mauldin at gunpoint last year was sentenced to prison Friday.

Ronald Tyrone Downs, Jr., 20, of Greenville was sentenced to 25 years on charges of armed robbery and first-degree assault and battery, said 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins.

According to prosecutors, Downs entered the Family Dollar store on East Butler Road on October 11, 2012 with his face masked and brandishing a pistol. Downs robbed the store of approximately $345.

During the robbery, Downs struck and assaulted a cashier repeatedly.

Several customers in the store called 911 during the robbery. Mauldin Police officer Sean Calhoun arrived on scene while the robbery was in progress, and gave chase when Downs fled. Calhoun ran after Downs through a field and into a residential area before finally apprehending and arresting him.

Downs will have to serve at least  85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, said Judge Eugne Griffith, Jr.