Cherokee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Joe Campbell called on nine witnesses in the prosecution of Dixon. Defense attorney Jamie Wyatt of Rome is expected to have his chance to call witnesses tomorrow after the prosecution's conclusion.
Witnesses taking the stand Tuesday included six law enforcement officers, two victims of robbery at gun point and a representative from a former employer of Dixon. The robbery victims questioned were also former acquaintances of Dixon -- one a former manager, the other a former co-worker.
The 12 member jury viewed surveillance footage from two locations as well as still photos taken from various video angles in addition to crime scene photography of evidence.
Campbell laid emphasis with his prosecution in links between two of the locations robbed being places of employment for Dixon. The Dec. 21, 2008, robbery of the Kangaroo Express/BP on Main Street in Cartersville occurred two weeks after Dixon's termination there and the Jan. 27, 2009, robbery of the Bojangles Restaurant on Joe Frank Harris Parkway in Cartersville occurred less than an hour after Dixon clocked out for the day.
Then acting manager for the Cartersville Bojangles Robert Kent said he was closing up when two subjects in dark clothing, ski masks and gloves brandishing what looked like a firearm entered the store and demanded he get on the ground.
"I looked down the hallway which is a small narrow hallway and saw two figures rushing in," Kent said, adding that he then became afraid to work at night and feared for his life, prompting his move to a Rome store to be closer to home.
That night the two men forced Kent to open the store's safe before fleeing with more than $1,800.
A search warrant executed at Dixon's residence revealed evidence which was brought forth by city of Cartersville investigating officer Sgt. Virginia Rogers. That evidence included an empty container for a Daisy BB gun allegedly matched the firearm seen in surveillance, and the receipt for the purchase of the BB gun on Jan. 26, 2009 -- one day before the Bojangles robbery. Also seized from Dixon's residence were a bank coin tray like that used at Bojangles, and Styrofoam cups from Bojangles allegedly used at the cash register for coin collection.
In cross examination, the defense consistently reminded the jury that the items seized during searches pertaining to the investigation were all common items available to everyone from multiple outlets. This includes the suspects' trademark North Face jackets as well as shoes, pants, gloves and other items associated with the case.
A recorded interview of Dixon with city of Cartersville and Bartow County investigators was played back for the courtroom in which Dixon agreed to waive his rights and speak to the investigators. After receiving little cooperation from Dixon, law enforcement officers were heard advising Dixon that the evidence will speak for itself to which he replied that it would then find him innocent.
The arrest of Dixon and alleged accomplice Cedric Boone came in March of last year by Cobb County law enforcement. The two were seen walking on a dark road late at night when they were stopped. A search of their persons found two BB guns, gloves and ski masks. Boone's case was heard in June 2008 by Judge Scott Smith, with Boone receiving a 20-year total sentence, to serve 15, with credit for time already served.
The prosecution will continue testimony today followed by the defense presenting its case.