A Lexington, N.C., man will spend eight to 11 years in prison after being convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and three counts of second-degree kidnapping during Burke County Superior Court.
Shannon James Diehl, 36, was given the active prison term by the Honorable Robert C. Ervin, Superior Court Judge from Burke County, following his guilty plea to the charges on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.
Diehl will serve the sentence in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
Investigators from the Morganton Department of Public Safety responded to an armed robbery at a Morganton jewelry store on November 11, 2017. Video surveillance from the business showed two individuals entering the store – one with a pistol – and forcing three employees against a wall. The individuals began smashing the display cases with hammers and stole more than $430,000 of merchandise before fleeing the scene. They later were apprehended in Lenoir.
Kyle Goforth was the lead investigator for Morganton Department of Public Safety. Lance Sigmon prosecuted the case for the District Attorney’s Office.
CONTACT: Nathan Key
Phone: 828-695-6193
Email: Nathan.D.Key@nccourts.org