Teen Gets 20 Years Following Robbery

— A Fayetteville teenager has received a 20-year prison sentence for robbing a man last year.

Tristan Nathaniel Starr, 17, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced count of felony robbery before Circuit Judge William Storey. He was initially charged with a more serious count of aggravated robbery.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Starr will serve 12 years in prison with the other eight years of his sentence suspended.

Starr reportedly stole a man’s wallet Aug. 28 near the Harp’s store at 1189 N. Garland Ave. Starr put a hand behind the man’s back and acted like he had a gun, telling the man he would shoot him in the head if he did not surrender the wallet, said Denis Dean, deputy prosecuting attorney.

Starr was arrested later that day. Prosecutors were unable to prove he had a handgun.

State law allows prosecutors to charge juveniles as adults in more serious cases such as robbery or murder.

Dean said Starr has an “extensive” juvenile history, but because juvenile records are sealed, he could not discuss the exact charges or number of cases Starr has faced in the past.

“Basically, he exhausted all possibilities in that system, and robbing someone is very adult behavior,” Dean said.

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