NEW BOSTON, Texas - A jury trial is under way at the Bowie County courthouse for a man accused of attempting to rob a Texarkana convenience store at gunpoint in September 2018.
Craig Eugene Taylor, 23, allegedly wore a mask and took steps to distract police after pointing a gun in the face of Wade Seastrung. Seastrung was working the cash register the night of Sept. 19, 2018, at the EZ Mart convenience store at 1603 Robison Road in Texarkana, Texas.
Seastrung, the only clerk on duty in the store at the time, testified Wednesday he was able to activate an alarm that led his assailant to flee without any cash.
As Texarkana, Texas, police searched for a suspect in the moments after they received the call, a second 911 call claiming a robbery was occurring less than two miles away at a different convenience store was received. Investigators allege Taylor made the second call as a diversion.
A backpack found in the area of the EZ Mart robbery contained clothing that matched the clothing worn by the robber in video surveillance. Taylor's DNA was allegedly found on a shirt in the backpack.
Taylor is represented by Assistant Public Defenders Sylvia Delgado and Bart Craytor. Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter is prosecuting. Fifth District Judge Bill Miller is presiding over the case.
Testimony is expected to continue Thursday morning. Special precautions are being taken to keep jurors, court staff and witnesses socially distanced because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taylor faces five to 99 years or life if found guilty.