Hamilton guilty of robbing Navarre Tom Thumb

A Navarre woman was found guilty of robbery while wearing a hood or mask Aug. 5.

Marci Lee Hamilton, 35, was convicted by a jury of robbing the Tom Thumb store at 9810 Navarre Parkway on March 5, 2010.

Hamilton entered the store wearing a purple sweatshirt with the hood pulled over her head.  She purchased some Marlboro “reds” cigarettes but before leaving the store ordered the clerk to open the register and give her the money.  Hamilton reached into a large black purse and told the clerk, “Just give it all to me.” 

Fearing that Hamilton had a gun, the clerk gave the defendant the money from the register.  Witnesses saw Hamilton get into a white van and leave the parking lot.  Okaloosa deputies stopped the van a short time later and recovered the money that had been stolen.  They also found a purple hooded sweatshirt, a black purse, and an unopened pack of Marlboro “reds” cigarettes inside the van. 

Circuit Judge David Rimmer set sentencing for Sept. 6. Because of her criminal history, Hamilton qualifies as a habitual felony offender and faces up to 60 years in prison for the robbery.  She must be sentenced to a minimum mandatory 30 years as a prison releaseerReoffender.  

The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s office.