News

Armed robber sent to prison

By Bill Moss, Published: October 19, 2015

A Brevard man was sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for his role in a robbery and assault in July 2013.

Derrick Hayes, of 102 Carver Street, was charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. In the early morning hours of July 27, 2013, Hayes and two other men, knocked on the door of the home of Casey Coan and Harmony Whitt in Brevard. When Coan opened the door, the three men forced their way into the residence and ordered Coan to the ground. Ms. Whitt heard the disturbance and came into the room.

Mr. Coan attempted to protect Ms. Whitt by stepping between her and the assailants and was subsequently shot in the abdomen. Money and other items were taken from the residence before Hayes and the others fled in a vehicle driven by a fourth person.

After Hayes pleaded guilty to Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Superior Court Judge Mark Powell sentenced him to between five years seven months to seven years nine months in prison. The sentence is consecutive to a sentence he is currently serving in state prison for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon in New Hanover County.

"When anyone violates the safety that we all expect to have in our homes, they need to serve a significant sentence in prison," District Attorney Greg Newman said. "The fact that Hayes also committed a similar crime in Wilmington, shows what a serious threat to the public he is. We appreciate the sentence that Judge Powell imposed on Mr. Hayes.”