Joshua Hunter Wingate, 24, of Statesville, was sentenced to an active prison term of six to eight years for robbery with a dangerous weapon during Catawba County Superior Court.
The Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, entered the sentence after Wingate entered a guilty plea to the charges on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Wingate also was given a suspended sentence of 19 to 32 months for attempted possession of firearm by felon. That sentence will run at the end of the active sentence for robbery if activated.
The defendant will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
Officers from Hickory Police Department responded to an armed robbery at a local business on February 28, 2026.
Multiple witnesses described a subject wearing white gloves and a black hoodie walking behind the checkout counter, brandishing a gun and taking money from the register. The theft was captured on security footage.
HPD officers located the vehicle that Wingate left the scene in, and its camera system showed the defendant leaving the scene of the robbery.
A handgun was found in the vehicle, along with currency, a bag from the business, items taken from the store, white gloves and a black hoodie.
Richard Helderman investigated the case for Hickory Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Howard Wellons prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Meredith Scott.