By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
A 42-year-old Dayton woman, Reshonda Walker, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the aggravated robberies of the Sonic Drive-ins in Liberty and Dayton in August 2018. She was sentenced this week in the 253rd State District Courtroom of the Honorable Judge Chap Cain.
The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Logan Pickett and Walker was represented by attorney Elizabeth Coker.
The crime spree that led to her prison sentence began with the aggravated robbery of the Dayton Sonic Drive-In, located at 207 W. U.S. 90, just east of Cleveland St. In this robbery, Walker brandished a handgun.
Three days later, Walker committed an aggravated robbery at the Sonic Drive-in on 1821 U.S. 90 in Liberty. Using a knife as a weapon, Walker demanded cash from a carhop before fleeing the scene. The carhop in Liberty suffered a few minor cuts and scrapes.
Walker must serve half of her prison time before she is eligible for parole, according to Pickett.
“She won’t be eligible for parole for 12.5 years because we requested, and Judge Cain agreed, to make findings that she used a knife and gun, respectively, in the two robberies,” Pickett said.
Walker has additional cases pending in other counties, though not for robberies or violent crimes.
“Her criminal history is full of drug convictions. We think she was trying to rob the Sonics for money to buy drugs,” he said. “These robberies show she is capable of violence.”
The threat of retribution for testifying against Walker was enough of a deterrent to keep one carhop from testifying, Pickett added.
“It reminds us that the victims have legitimate concerns about their safety. It’s a real fear,” he said. “Because she committed these crimes, we can’t say we don’t find this person to be dangerous.”