Authorities in Union County say two men have entered guilty pleas in connection with the June 3rd 2016 robbery of a Casey’s Store at South Elm and Taylor Streets, in Creston. Last Friday, 19-year old Dyrrel Malik Thornton Culbertson plead guilty to the Armed Robbery, and, he was found guilty of Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, as a result of evidence discovered during the execution of a search warrant following the robbery.

During the course of that investigation, officers learned of additional information which linked Thornton-Culbertson to the Armed Robbery of the Creston Casey’s (at 200 S. Elm) on October 21st, 2015. Thornton-Culbertson plead guilty to that crime as well. Because he was on probation at the time he committed the crimes, the Court revoked his probation and ordered all of the sentences to be served consecutively. As a result, Thornton-Culbertson received an indeterminate sentence of 50-years in prison.

The case followed court proceedings on August 26th, 2016, involving a co-defendant, 20-year old Fransisco Martinez. Martinez plead guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery of the Creston Casey’s Store (at South Elm and Taylor) on June 3rd, 2016.

Fransisco Martinez

In connection with that incident, he was also found guilty of Possession of a Controlled Substance as a result of evidence discovered during the execution of a search warrant following the robbery. As a result, Martinez was sentenced to 11-years in prison.