When they were arrested in March 2009, investigators dubbed Eric Lamont Dixon, 23, and Cedric Boone, also 23, the "North Face" robbers, accusing them of several armed robberies of convenience stores. Surveillance footage in a number of the incidents showed two men, either one or both wearing North Face jackets, which have a distinct emblem on the back.
But it was not the jacket or Boone's testimony that prosecutors focused on in Dixon's trial -- Boone pleaded to three armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery in June 2009, and is now serving 15 years of a 30-year sentence in prison. It was the backpack, which police say Dixon had when the pair was arrested by Cobb County authorities.
District Attorney Joe Campbell argued in Dixon's trial the two -- in possession of ski masks and BB guns -- were then headed to commit another armed robbery at a Shell station off Wade Green Road. He also told jurors Dixon is left-handed, like the robber carrying the same backpack seen in surveillance footage.
The jury found Dixon not guilty of a Feb. 17, 2009, attempted armed robbery of The Lion's Den adult products and convenience store on Kent Drive off Cass-White Road. He was also found not guilty of armed robbery and false imprisonment in connection with the Feb. 17, 2009, armed robbery of the Texaco on Cass-White Road. Superior Court Judge Shepherd Howell, who presided over the trial, directed Wednesday a not guilty verdict on the armed robbery count.
Jurors found Dixon guilty of five counts of armed robbery and five counts of false imprisonment related to the Dec. 21, 2008, armed robbery of the Kangaroo Express on East Main Street in Cartersville; the Jan. 27, 2009, armed robbery of the Bojangles on Joe Frank Harris Parkway in Cartersville; the Feb. 12, 2009, armed robbery of the Red Top Mountain Road Texaco; and Feb. 18, 2009, armed robbery of the Kangaroo Express on Glade Road near Interstate 75. There were two people working in the Red Top Texaco during that incident.
The Daily Tribune News reported in March 2009 that more than an aggregate of $1,700 was taken in those incidents.
Boone, who was not charged in connection with the Dec, 21, 2008, and Jan. 27, 2009, incidents at the convenience store on East Main Street and at Bojangles, respectively, pleaded guilty to armed robbery and false imprisonment in connection with three armed robberies and the attempted armed robbery at Lion's Den. He was sentenced under the First Offender statute, according to court records.
Dixon is set to undergo a pre-sentence investigation by probation officials prior to being sentenced by Howell on July 6. He showed no emotion when Howell published the verdict.