Man robbed at business

A Franklin man was at work at Custom Organics at 150 E. Lukken Industrial Drive when two men robbed him Thursday night, LaGrange police said.

The victim said he heard noise toward the front of the business just before 10 p.m. When he unlocked the front door and stepped outside to investigate, he was confronted by two men. One of the men said, “Give me your money” and shoved him to the ground. When he got up, the second suspect was pointing a gun at him, police said.

The victim showed the intruders his empty wallet and they grabbed his shirt, tearing off a breast pocket and taking $350 he’d planned to use for his utility bill.

A police K9 unit was called in to search the area. The case was handed over to the department’s criminal investigation division.

Caller promises $5 million

A Cherokee Road resident told police Thursday that a man keeps calling her house and telling her she’s won $5 million. The caller tells the woman he wants to meet at a bank to cash the check.

Police told the woman if the man calls again “tell him you want to meet at the police department instead of your bank.”

Arrest

Clarence Perry, 48, of Atlanta was arrested Wednesday on charges of influencing a witness after he allegedly followed a woman out of a third-floor courtroom at the Troup County Government Center and began cursing and making derogatory remarks. Perry allegedly was angry because the woman wouldn’t take the rap for a charge that was pending against Perry in Superior Court.

Guilty pleas

Sentenced after pleading guilty Thursday in Troup Superior Court were:

— James Howard, 59, of Hogansville; five years in prison and seven years’ probation for three counts of child molestation.

— Dexter McCauley Parks, 40, of Greenville; four years in prison, six years’ probation and $670 restitution for a residential burglary on Barnard Avenue, first-degree criminal damage to property and two counts of stalking. Police said he poured oil in the gas tank of the victim’s car.

— Donald Lamar Cotton, 31, of LaGrange; two years at the county Correctional Institute, eight years’ probation and $740 restitution for stealing a Wal-Mart money order.

— Reginald Devon Benson, 42 of LaGrange; four years in prison, 11 years’ probation and restitution of $3,460 for a burglary in the 3800 block of Hogansville Road and stealing money from the victim.

— Carole Lee Milner, 53, of LaGrange; two years in prison and eight years’ probation for stealing a camcorder, digital camera, cosmetics and other items from Wal-Mart. She had three previous shoplifting convictions.

Funny money

The LaGrange Utilities Department said it received a suspected counterfeit $10 bill Thursday.

Damage

A resident in the first block of North Cary Street told police that vandals flattened the front tires of her Ford Taurus, causing less than $500 in damage.

- It is the policy of LaGrange Daily News to print the names of people charged with felonies.