Guilty pleas for 4 Sumter men in armed robberies, shooting

Four Sumter men who were arrested in December in connection with a string of armed robberies of barbershops and other businesses have pleaded guilty.

Chase Bernard Nelson, 20, and Malik Nelson, 18, both of the same Robney Drive address; 30-year-old James Simon, of West Bartlette Street; and 20-year-old Marion Shakur Rahman, of Marilyn Drive, pleaded guilty on Thursday at a hearing before Third Circuit Judge Ferrell Cothran at Sumter County Judicial Center, according to Sumter Police Department.

The armed robberies — at Bojangles’ on Broad Street, Star Barbershop, Gentleman’s Barbershop, Rollerson Package Store and Peanut Enterprise — began in August 2017 and ended with the armed robbery and shooting of a then-31-year-old victim outside Miller Arms apartments in December, said Tonyia McGirt, public information officer for the police department.

The four had charges against them ranging from armed robbery to conspiracy and attempted murder, McGirt said.

Chase Nelson was sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempted murder, attempted armed robbery, first-degree assault and battery, five counts of armed robbery and five counts of criminal conspiracy.

Malik Nelson faces 10 years in prison for attempted armed robbery, two counts of armed robbery and three counts of criminal conspiracy.

Simon was sentenced to 18 years in prison for three counts of armed robbery, attempted murder and three counts of criminal conspiracy.

Rahman was sentenced to probation for criminal conspiracy.

Sumter Police Chief Russell F. Roark III said many hours of hard work by officers and detectives coupled with “support from the community helped to solve these cases and quell any anxieties the actions of these four men created among residents and businesses.”