A Greene County jury deliberated for less than 20 minutes on Aug. 25 before delivering guilty verdicts for an Alabama pair charged with armed robbery.
Haiden Corley, 21, formerly of Cottondale, Alabama, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the armed robbery of the Siloam Chevron on Feb. 23. Elaine Bates, 29, formerly of Hayden, Alabama, was also convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 20 years with 15 to serve in prison.
Steven Burnes, formerly of Empire, Alabama, pled guilty to armed robbery the day before the trial began and received a sentence of 20 years. The sentences were handed down by Judge Stephen Bradley.
According to Ocmulgee Circuit Assistant District Attorney Blayne May, Corley appeared to have been the mastermind of the robbery, and Alabama law enforcement agencies believe he had been involved in similar incidents in Cullman and Jefferson (Birmingham) counties.
May said that Bates had a gun and an alternate license plate for her Impala, and the jury appeared to conclude that she was an active participant in the robberies.
According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched in reference to a reported armed robbery on Feb. 23.
Witnesses described the robbery suspect as a white male wearing a camouflage coat. Reports said he had brandished a firearm, taken the money and jumped in the back seat of a gold Chevrolet Impala, which then headed north on Highway 77 toward I-20.
According to the GCSO, Sgt. Don Smith spotted the Impala headed west on I-20 near exit 130 when he responded to the call.
“Deputy Robby McCannon entered I-20 West at Exit 130 and caught up to Sgt. Smith to prepare to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle,” a statement released by the GCSO said the day after the crime.
Smith activated his lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver accelerated, and a pursuit ensued.
“The pursuit continued into Morgan County led by McCannon, and Sgt.
William Smith of the MCSO staged at Exit 121 with a tire deflation device,” according to the release. “Once the vehicle approached Sgt. W.
Smith, the driver drove toward him, swerving to the right at the last minute to avoid a collision.
“Deputies with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist, and the pursuit continued down Buckhead Road and onto GA 12. The driver eventually turned onto Woodkraft Road and through the guard gate at the Georgia Pacific plant at over 80 miles per hour.
The vehicle continued around the lumber yard and onto a gravel road.
The driver of the vehicle lost control and struck a cement culvert which disabled the vehicle.
Both the driver and the rear passenger exited the vehicle through the driver’s side and fled on foot.
Deputy McCannon was able to apprehend one of the subjects, later identified as Burns, but the female passenger, later identified as Bates, continued into the woods.
Bates was taken into custody by Deputy Randy Murphy.
Units on the scene requested a K-9 Unit from the Georgia Department of Corrections, and Corley was soon located hiding in a thick patch of briars and small pine trees. He and taken to a local hospital for treatment.
In other Lake area trials: a Morgan County jury convicted Edward Dwayne Bell, 59, of aggravated child molestation on Aug. 24. He was sentenced to life with the first 26 years to be served in prison. His crimes were committed in August and September 2019, according to reports.