Multi-Convicted Robber Receives Thirty-Year Sentence

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions for multiple robberies against a career criminal who was on parole for multiple robberies out of Davidson and Sumner Counties. Timothy W. Kelly, 42, was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Robbery, Attempted Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Evading Arrest. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Kelly will serve thirty years in prison without the possibility of parole. This thirty-year sentence must run consecutive to a twenty-nine year sentence Kelly obtained for multiple Aggravated Robberies in Davidson and Sumner Counties.

In a plea hearing before Judge Scott Green, Assistant District Attorney TaKisha Fitzgerald explained that on May 18, 2015, Kelly approached a cashier who was smoking outside the Pilot gas station at 6432 Asheville Highway. Kelly had a pair of pants covering his head and asked the cashier for help, stating he had something in his eye. When the cashier took him inside to help, Kelly demanded money from the cash register and a carton of cigarettes.

A few days later, on May 23, 2015, at around 11:58 PM, Kelly approached the drive-through window at the Taco Bell located at 7211 Strawberry Plains Pike. While at the window, Kelly produced a firearm wrapped in a white cloth and demanded money. The cashier and employees fled and hid in the walk-in freezer. Kelly attempted to take money from the cash register but was unsuccessful. Six minutes later, while Knoxville Police Department officers were responding to Taco Bell, Kelly approached the Wendy’s drive-through window at 7407 Strawberry Plains Pike, produced the same firearm, and again demanded money. This time, Kelly crawled through the window and took the entire cash register.

“This career criminal was on parole out of Middle Tennessee for the exact same type of offenses he committed in our community,” said DA Charme Allen.”For that reason, my office made sure he would serve the entirety of his sentence in prison without any chance of early release.”

Kelly was on parole for a string of eleven felonies including seven Aggravated Robberies and Attempted Aggravated Robberies he committed in Davidson and Sumner Counties. Kelly received a twenty-nine year sentence on those cases in 2005, however, he was released by the Tennessee Board of Parole in 2013 after serving a portion of his sentence. This time, because of the plea agreement reached in this case, Kelly must serve one hundred percent of his thirty-year sentence without the possibility of parole.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.