A LaGrange man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Friday after he pleaded guilty to an attempted armed robbery at PCA Package Store on Hogansville Road.

Alton Maurince Holston, 31, demanded money from a store clerk on April 2, 2009, but the clerk attacked him with a ballpoint pen and Holston fled in a vehicle, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Monique Kirby. Holston fired a shot in the parking lot, but not toward the victim.

Holston, who also pleaded guilty to a firearms charge, had a previous forgery conviction and received a life sentence for an armed robbery in Alabama, but was paroled nearly two years ago. Kirby said Alabama authorities want to revoke all or part of his parole because of the Georgia charge.

“I’m sorry for my actions in these cases,” Holston told Superior Court Judge Allen Keeble, asking for leniency because he wanted to be a good father to his three small children.

But the judge told him that not sticking to the negotiated plea would subject him to a prison term of up to 35 years.

Guilty pleas

These people were senteced after pleading guilty in Troup Superior Court:

n Javaris Antonio Thomas, 33, of Montgomery, Ala.; five years in prison, five years’ probation and a $2,000 fine for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

n Thyrandez Lavance Heard, 23, of West Point; two years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

n Amy Yarbrough, 42, of West Point; three years in prison, seven years’ probation and restitution of $1,075 for three counts of first-degree forgery.

n Kenneth Lee Brown, 56, of LaGrange; two years in prison and three years’ probation for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine and obstruction of an officer.

Thefts, burglaries

n A resident of Amberwood Apartments said 14 Oxycodone and five Hydrocodone tablets were taken from her apartment.

n A LaGrange woman and her daughter said a $700 E-machine computer and $180 Verizon USB air card were taken when they left the items unattended at LaGrange Memorial Library at 114 Alford St.

n The owner of an auto holding lot on Colquitt Street said thieves got in through an unsecured area and stole a door worth $175 from a 1986 Ford Tempo, a radiator worth $75 from a 1988 Lincoln Town Car and a radiator worth $75 from an 1989 Lincoln Town Car.

n A cab driver said a man fled without paying a $12 fare in the area of Park Avenue and Elm Street.

n A woman said a $135 Motorola cell phone was taken from the front steps of the Smile Center at 104 Harwell Ave. where she left it while waiting to go in.

n A woman said someone stole a carport valued at $1,000 from her rental property in the 200 block of Doctor Hammett Road.

n About 14 video games valued at $300 were stolen in a mobile home burglary in the 2100 block of West Point Road.

n Items valued at $1,500 were stolen from a car in the 3400 block of Hogansville Road.

n A thief stole two used sinks from the yard of an unoccupied house in the 100 block of Laura Drive and also tried to break into the house.

Man charged with panhandling

A man was charged with soliciting alms outside the Shell Mart at 505 Vernon St. after police found him asking patrons for gas money and a ride. The man was described as homeless and did not have a vehicle to put gasoline in.

Crime Stoppers

Troup County Crime Stoppers has approved the following rewards:

13779, $50; 13767, $50; 13908, $100; 13760, $50; 13939, $50; 13965, $50; 13967, $150; 13977, $50; and 13987, $50.

Those with an approved code may call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (706) 812-1000 to find out how to collect the reward.

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