Two sentenced in connection with robbery of Casey’s store

Dyrrel Malik Thornton-Culbertson pleaded guilty to armed robbery Friday and Fransisco Martinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery Aug. 26 in connection to the June 3 robbery of Casey’s General Store, located at the intersection of South Elm and West Taylor streets.

Thornton-Culbertson and Martinez, both of Creston, were each immediately transported to prison after they pleaded. They are both eligible for parole, but when that could happen will be decided by the parole board.

“We felt it was important that the public be specifically aware because these were significant events here in Creston and these are substantial jail sentences,” said Union County Attorney Tim Kenyon. “We want folks to know that these cases did get attended to, they did get resolved, and ... there was a lot of law enforcement investigative time connecting all of these. Law enforcement put together a lot of information from a lot of helpful folks.”

According to a Creston Police report, Thornton-Culbertson, 19, of Creston was also found guilty of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance as a result of evidence discovered during the execution of a search warrant after the robbery. During the course of that investigation, officers learned of additional information which linked Thornton-Culbertson to the Oct. 21, 2015, armed robbery of Casey’s, 200 S. Elm St., which he also pleaded guilty to.

“It was just a matter of time. We caught them off the second one (robbery). We just developed the leads from there,” said Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer. “I’m glad that both cases were successfully resolved and I’m proud of the effort the officers put into it to get convictions from both cases.”

On Oct. 21, 2015, officers received an early-morning phone call in reference to an armed robbery at Casey’s, 200 S. Elm St.. The subject was described as having his face covered and a weapon at his side.

On June 3, officers received an early-morning call from a Casey’s employee saying the store was robbed at gunpoint by a male subject wearing a white mask who left in a vehicle. About an hour later, a citizen reported a vehicle matching the description was in a ditch in Adair County, and the driver was attempting to get out.

Creston Police Department K-9 Minko and officers from Creston Police Department, Union County and Adair County sheriff’s offices and Iowa State Patrol responded to the area. Martinez and Thornton-Culbertson were the only subjects in the vehicle and in their possession was a large amount of cash and coins.

A search warrant was conducted at 316 Livingston Ave., where Martinez and Thornton-Culbertson were residing. Officers located packaging materials, marijuana seeds and a small amount of marijuana in Martinez’s bedroom. Also, $153 in currency was taken off his person. A safe was found in Thornton-Culbertson’s bedroom that contained controlled substances, scales, packaging material and money.

An undetermined amount of money was taken from each Casey’s.

Thornton-Culbertson and Martinez were both originally charged June 3 with first-degree robbery and controlled substance violation.

Because Thornton-Culbertson was on probation at the time of the offenses, his probation was revoked and all sentences were ordered to be served consecutively. As a result, Thornton Culbertson was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

The case followed court proceedings Aug. 26 involving Martinez. Martinez, 20, of Creston was also found guilty of possession of a controlled substance as a result of evidence discovered during the execution of the search warrant after the robbery. As a result, Martinez was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

“We had some timely reports from some citizens that helped out and had some good law enforcement work,” Kenyon said. “All of those things came together perfectly and that’s why we were able to do this. We really couldn’t do it without the cooperating from the community and law enforcement.”