Career Criminal Nets Twenty-Third Felony Conviction

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions against a career criminal with twenty-two prior felony convictions who burglarized Wal-Mart. Curtis Logan Lawson, 36, was convicted of Burglary, Theft, and Criminal Trespass. Judge Scott Green set the case for sentencing on May 11 where Lawson faces a minimum sentence of twelve years.

In a two-day trial, Assistant District Attorneys Ashley McDermott and Jordan Murray explained to the jury that on December 26, 2016, Lawson entered the Wal-Mart at University Commons even though he had been banned from all Wal-Mart stores for a previous theft conviction in Sevier County. On this occasion, Lawson entered the store with a shopping bag and a receipt for previously-purchased goods. Loss prevention officers watched as Lawson took items from the shelves to match the items on the receipt in an attempt to fraudulently return those items for cash. Lawson’s actions were captured by in-store video surveillance cameras, and he was arrested by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Organized Retail Crime Unit.

Lawson has twenty-two prior felony convictions and at least twelve misdemeanor convictions out of Sevier and Knox Counties, including eighteen prior Burglary convictions. Because of his lengthy criminal history, Lawson is a Career Offender facing a sentence of twelve years in prison.

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.