One of Four in Robbery Gets Life

Brandon Keenan Potts of Powder Springs was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for assaulting and terrorising a family while armed during a violent home invasion and robbery last August. 

Potts, 26, pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery, one count of kidnapping, five counts of cruelty to children in the first degree, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to a press release from Douglas County District Attorney David McDade.

Potts was sentenced to a term of life in prison, plus an additional five years.

He is one of four accused of being involved with the robbery in Douglas County on Aug. 9, 2011. The remaining three face similar charges and are expected to go to trial in early spring, the release says.

During the hearing, Douglas County investigator John Sweat told the court that the victims—four adults and four children—were awakened shortly before midnight by three masked men who had kicked in the front door.

Once inside, the men held the victims hostage at gunpoint and demanded money. They also tied some family members up with zip ties.

One of the victims called a relative during the robbery. The phone call helped 911 operators direct authorities to the house.

Potts and another person were apprehended shortly after officers arrived.

Potts was captured after he walked out of the house and dropped his 9mm handgun. He later admitted to robbing the victims with the gun and restraining at least two of them.

Authorities used the admission to arrest another one of those charged in the case. The fourth person arrested is accused of being the getaway driver and organizing the robbery.

“Violent criminals committing violent crimes like these are why we build maximum security prisons,” McDade says in the release. “Potts has earned the right to never see daylight again as far as I’m concerned. He should only ever leave prison to meet his maker.”