Faulkner County jury convicts Sherwood man

A Faulkner County Jury convicted Jeffrey Paul Golden, 38, of Sherwood, of two counts of aggravated robbery on July 10.

Golden, an 8-time convicted felon, was found guilty of robbing a Conway Subway restaurant on Aug. 11, 2006 and Playworld, a Conway restaurant and children's amusement center, on Aug. 14, 2006. Police say Golden wielded a handgun during the commission of both robberies.

In the state's case against Golden, deputy prosecuting attorney Joe Don Winningham called employees of both businesses as witnesses to identify Golden as the man who robbed them and to testify about what he told them during the course of the robberies.

Winningham also called witnesses from Pulaski County to testify about Golden's involvement in two similar robberies there.

After less than four hours deliberation the jury found Golden guilty of two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of felon in possession of a firearm used in the commission of another crime and two counts of theft of property. He was sentenced to a total of 25 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.

"Obviously, Jeffrey Paul Golden belongs in the ADC," 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Marcus Vaden said, also stating that he was impressed by the courage of the victims that testified and the hard work of the Faulkner County jury "in getting a very dangerous criminal off the streets."

Golden is currently awaiting trial in Pulaski County accused of committing two robberies there.