TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man who created mayhem in a Texarkana convenience store last year was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to multiple felonies.
Ashley Neal McClanahan, 41, appeared before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell at the Bi-State Justice Building. Assistant Public Defender Clayton Haas entered pleas of guilty on McClanahan's behalf to charges of aggravated robbery, assault on a public servant, harassment of a public servant and criminal mischief with damage between $2,500 and $30,000.
Tidwell sentenced McClanahan to 12 months in a state jail for criminal mischief and imposed 10-year sentences on other felony charges. All of the terms will run concurrently.
McClanahan was arrested Feb. 1, 2021, after going on a rampage inside a convenience store in Texarkana, Texas, at the intersection of Texas Boulevard and College Drive, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Shortly before creating chaos, McClanahan struck a female police officer who approached him on Texas Boulevard, where she was responding to a call about a suspicious person. Officer Jerrika Weaver chased McClanahan and shot him with her pepper spray gun, but the measure "did not elicit compliance."
McClanahan entered the Exxon convenience store at 3300 Texas Blvd., rounded the counter and began rummaging through the purse of an employee. The tumultuous incident was caught on video surveillance.
Weaver followed McClanahan and entered the store, being struck again in the face as she attempted to arrest him.
Weaver briefly retreated before attempting to gain control of McClanahan using a police-issued baton, but McClanahan hit her in the head. As McClanahan attempted to grab a register from the store counter, an employee attempted to stop him. McClanahan smashed the register onto the floor.
McClanahan pulled down the cigarette display before turning toward a female employee who was trapped between the counter and items McClanahan had thrown around. McClanahan lunged at the employee and took her cell phone from her hands. The employee grabbed her purse and retreated as far from McClanahan as she could get.
"McClanahan then attacks her, appearing to attempt to take her purse away from her while grabbing her and slinging her around," the affidavit states.
McClanahan hit the clerk with objects from the counter as Weaver shot him again with her pepper spray gun. The spray appeared to have no effect.
Several civilians unsuccessfully attempted to assist Weaver in getting cuffs on McClanahan but he manages to stand up despite several people working to restrain him as Weaver secured a cuff around one of McClanahan's wrists. As McClanahan stands, civilians and Weaver exit the business and leave McClanahan in the store.
Weaver's body camera recorded multiple persons stating that they saw McClanahan with a knife.
A knife was later recovered from the scene.
McClanahan retreated to the store bathroom as more officers came to assist. Several more rounds of pepper spray were deployed in an attempt to bring McClanahan under control.
McClanahan finally went to his knees after being struck in the face with pepper spray. He continued to fight with officers, hitting and spitting on them, as they attempted to put cuffs on him and wrestle him into a patrol car.