Prosecuting Attorney Chris Walton announced that Darrien Toto, 26, pled guilty to aggravated robbery on March 15, 2022. Judge Josh Farmer sentenced Toto to 18 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. Toto has out-of-state convictions for burglary and theft of property. He also has pending charges in Pulaski County, including aggravated robbery.
On March 15, 2021, at about 11:00 p.m., Toto, of Little Rock, entered the Big Red Valero convenience store in Hensley. He held what appeared to be a firearm covered with a white cloth. He approached the store clerk working the cash register and pointed the firearm at the clerk.
According to witnesses, he shoved the clerk and stated, “this is a robbery, open the register” and “if this gun was real, I’d blast you.” Once the register was opened, Toto took the money in the register and fled the store. There were several customers in the store at the time of the robbery.
Multiple tips were given to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. Their thorough investigation led to Toto as the suspect. He matched the description given by the witnesses and matched the characteristics seen in the store video. Toto was later found in a car matching the description of the car he used in the robbery. He still had possession of the mask worn in the robbery.
In a press statement, Walton thanked the work of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, particularly Lt. Kate Hawthorn.
