Lawrence man sentenced to more than six years in prison for two robberies he committed to get money for illegal drugs

A judge sentenced a 29-year-old Lawrence man to serve more than six years in prison for robbing two Lawrence convenience stores last year.

District Judge Sally Pokorny handed down the sentence to Cetewayo Ragins Friday afternoon.

In January, Ragins pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery for using a gun to take cash from a clerk Nov. 25 at Presto, 602 W. Ninth St., and from a clerk Nov. 28 at Zarco 66, 1415 W. Sixth St.

Prosecutors said a Lawrence police officer had recognized Ragins from Zarco store surveillance footage and that Ragins later confessed to using a black BB gun to commit the robberies to get money for drugs.

Ragins will concurrently serve 75-month and 59-month sentences, and he must pay $672 restitution plus court costs. Pokorny also ordered him to register as a violent offender once he’s on parole because the crimes were committed with a firearm.