Boost Mobile robber sentenced to 30 years

A Pensacola man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for attacking two female store clerks in two separate robberies, according to a news release from the State Attorney's Office.

Vincent Lavon Johnson, 41, went in to Happy Nick's convenience store on Palafox Street on May 28, punched the clerk in the face and emptied the cash register, the release said. On June 18, Johnson entered the Boost Mobile on Bayou Boulevard, punched the clerk in the face — a woman who was six months pregnant at the time — and again took the money from the register.

Both of the assaults were caught on surveillance video and Johnson was identified from the videos. Johnson pleaded guilty to the crimes in October.

Johnson has been in and out of state prison since 1990 and has 43 prior felony convictions.

Circuit Judge Michael Allen sentenced Johnson to two consecutive 15-year sentences for robbery without a firearm and aggravated battery on a pregnant person.

The investigations of these crimes were conducted by both the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and Pensacola Police Department. Assistant State Attorney Trey Myers prosecuted the case.