Gulfport man to serve 25 years for armed robbery

A Gulfport man will spend 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to the 2023 armed robbery of a Hardees restaurant.

District Attorney Crosby Parker said 34-year-old Charles Brown pleaded guilty earlier this week. He was sentenced to 25 years as a habitual offender will serve his sentence day-for-day without possibility of parole or early release.

According to the DA, Brown shot the door of the restaurant, entered and pointed the weapon at employees.

Brown forced an employee to open the safe and hand over the money inside. Startled by a second employee, Brown fired into the floor and a fragment hit one of the employees in the leg.

He was captured three days later and confessed to the crime during questioning by Gulfport Police.