A Garland resident will serve over 65 months in prison after being convicted last week for shooting an unarmed man in the back on St. Patrick’s Day two years ago.

Crystal Gail Robinson, 27, of Garland, was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury last Tuesday in Sampson County Superior Court.

State’s evidence showed that the victim, Jerry Lee Jeffers, was at a club commonly known as “Cowboy’s,” located at 962 Garland Airport Road in Garland, on March 17 and into the early morning hours of March 18, 2007, when he and Robinson got into an argument inside the club over a barstool.

Several hours later, as Jeffers was leaving the club, Robinson confronted him outside of the door and said, “What’s up now?” and began firing.

In his testimony, Jeffers, who was not armed at the time of the incident, said that he turned to run and heard a bullet go by his head and was struck in the lower back — the bullet exited out of the front of his body. Jeffers said that he heard several more shots as he continued to run from Robinson.

He was able to run across the road, where he struck a clothesline, crawled into the woods and dialed 911 for help.

Sampson County Sheriff’s deputy Jason Faircloth testified that he was first on the scene and found Jeffers “propped up” against a tree in the woods, obviously injured. Faircloth also testified that Jeffers told him “Crystal” shot him.

EMS transported Jeffers to Sampson Regional Medical Center where he was treated by Kristie Guy, RN, and Dr. John Penrose for a gunshot wound. Both Guy and Penrose testified that the entrance wound to Jeffers was to his lower back. Penrose told the court that this type of injury is likely to cause “great pain and suffering.”

In court, Jeffers identified Robinson as the person who shot him.

Robinson testified in her own defense, admitting that she, indeed, argued over the barstool on the night in question, but denied shooting Jeffers.

After the jury convicted Robinson, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge W. Allen Cobb Jr. of Wilmington sentenced her to serve no less than 65, nor more than 87, months in prison.

According to the North Carolina Department of Correction website, it is Robinson’s first felony conviction.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.