2 teens sentenced for kidnapping pizza delivery man

GULFPORT (AP) — Two teenagers will serve 20 years in prison for their role in the kidnapping and assault of a pizza delivery driver.

Robert Sylvester Smith Jr. was 17 at the time of the crime. Joshua Martez Hayes was 15. Both pleaded guilty in September to kidnapping, aggravated assault, robbery and taking possession of a vehicle.

The two were accused in the Jan. 9, 2006 incident involving Larry Arnold of Domino’s Pizza who was left in a coma following the beating. Arnold, who was 67 at the time, was assaulted and locked in the trunk of his car before the car was driven away, then abandoned. The victim called police before he lost consciousness.

Circuit Judge Roger T. Clark sentenced Smith, now 19, and Hayes, 17, Monday to the maximum 70 years for kidnapping, aggravated assault, robbery and taking possession of a vehicle. The judge ordered time on all four counts served concurrently for a total of 30 years and suspended 10 years for each defendant. The teens can be considered for early release after serving 85 percent of their time. The two will be on probation for three years following their release from prison.

Police say the teens decided to rob Arnold after they saw him deliver a pizza to a home on 18th Avenue.

Smith and Hayes denied beating Arnold, but Smith acknowledged shoving the man’s body in his trunk. Neither would say who drove the delivery man’s car and abandoned it 12 blocks away.

Damaro Markeith Robertson, now 14, is also charged as an adult. He is being held at the Harrison County jail. The charges against him have not been resolved.