BURGAW — A Pender County jury convicted Robert Ennis, age 46 of Atkinson, of robbery with a dangerous Weapon, two counts of first degree kidnapping, and two counts of forcible first degree sex offense on May 29.
Judge Clinton Rowe sentenced Ennis to 52-73 years in prison.
As revealed in court, Ennis knocked on the door of a home in Rocky Point, North Carolina, on Dec. 4, 2022 along with another individuals. Both forced their way into the home armed with handguns.
Ennis demanded money of the five individuals at the house and took several hundred dollarsfrom one of the individuals. He forced the three women to strip naked and forced two of the women with a gun to their heads to perform oral sex on him. Before leaving, he took one of the women’s keys and money.
The robbery and sexual assault were reported immediately to the Pender County Sheriff’s Office and Ennis was located eight hours after the robbery when he wrecked his vehicle in Wilmington, North Carolina. In the vehicle were the keys and money Ennis had taken from
one of the women.
Ennis was taken into custody and confessed to law enforcement. At trial, DNA
evidence was presented linking Ennis to the sexual assaults. After a day and a half of evidence, the jury deliberated for 45 minutes and convicted Ennis of all charges.
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