Two sentenced in 2019 robbery of Lee County convenience store

Two suspects in a 2019 robbery of a gas station in Lee County, Va have been sentenced in Circuit Court.

Lee County Commonwealth’s Attorney H Fuller Cridlin announced Monday that Mark Edward Bates was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Christopher Joe Parsons received an eight year sentence. Cridlin presented evidence at the sentencing hearing that determined the duo planned the robbery of the Dot Fast Mart on Nov. 14 of last year, the night before they robbed the convenience store.

Bates entered the store with a B.B gun that looked like a real pistol, threatened the cashier, and demanded money from the store, according to prosecutors. Bates had previously been banned from the store for shoplifting.

Cridlin issued the following statement after the hearing:

“The sentences imposed today reflect the serious nature of the crime which was simply put, a planned, coordinated act of horrific violence. There is never an excuse to threaten someone with a firearm or a simulated firearm. Such acts cause lifelong emotional trauma for victims. I want to thank our brave victim for her testimony and cooperation throughout this case. I also want to thank Lt. Bobby Ellis and other members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for outstanding investigative work.”

Photo Courtesy: Southwest Virginia Regional Jail