May 10, 2007 By Josh Krysak 2 min read

A Uniontown man accused of robbing a local bar at gunpoint last September was found guilty Wednesday in Fayette County Court. Derrick Bernard Maddox, 22, of 16 Wilson Ave. was found guilty on charges he robbed the Past Time Inn in Uniontown but was acquitted of additional charges stemming from other robberies the night of Sept. 27, 2006.

Maddox was initially charged with three counts each of robbery, simple assault and aggravated assault, along with terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and theft by unlawful taking.

A jury convicted Maddox on charges of robbery, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person Wednesday in regards to the Past Time Inn hold up, but acquitted him on similar charges stemming from multiple armed robberies at BFS Foods in Uniontown, police said.

Uniontown police Detective Donald M. Gmitter said Maddox along with Billy Deonte James, a.k.a. Black, 26, of 56 Lenox St., Uniontown, robbed two businesses and at least two people that evening.

Gmitter said the first robbery occurred at 7:16 p.m. at the Past Time Inn on West Berkeley Street in Uniontown.

According to Gmitter, Maddox entered the bar brandishing a silver revolver.

Maddox then put the pistol against the head of patron John Thorpe Jr. of Uniontown and demanded money from the bartender, according to police.

After receiving about $60 from the bartender, he fled the scene, police said.

In the second robbery, Gmitter said that Uniontown police responded to an armed robbery at BFS Foods on Morgantown Street in Uniontown at 10:16 p.m.

Police said Maddox, brandishing a gun, robbed two customers and the store.

Maddox then fled the scene, police said.

Gmitter said a description of Maddox matched the description of the suspects involved in the robbery at the Old Past Time Inn while information from a witness led them to the location of the vehicle used.

The vehicle was recovered in Masontown and was impounded and secured at the Uniontown Police Department while officers, along with a K-9 unit and state police, located James on Lenox Street a short time later.

Police said Maddox turned himself in.

Maddox remains in the Fayette County Prison while he awaits sentencing. Fayette County Judge John F. Wagner increased his bond following the guilty verdict from $40,000 straight cash to $75,000 straight cash.