The second Jacksonville defendant arrested in the Dec. 6 shoplifting that led to a 64-year-old store owner getting run over and killed by the getaway driver ― who is still being sought ― got off much easier than the first.
David Frederick Pulliam Jr., 30, pleaded no contest on June 17 to charges of misdemeanor petty theft and resisting while committing theft, according to court records, and was immediately sentenced by Judge Brooke Brady to 10 months in jail for each count, but to run concurrently ― so 10 months total.
Co-defendant Tashina Renee Dobbins, 40, who described Pulliam as her fiancé, pleaded guilty to felony petty theft but skipped her sentencing and was re-arrested on an additional charge of failure of a defendant on bail to appear. On May 30, Judge Mark Borello sentenced her to five years in prison for each count, but to run consecutively ― meaning 10 years total.
After learning of Pulliam’s sentence, Beauty Max owner Ilson Miriam Kim’s family provided the following statement:
“We are deeply disappointed by the outcome of the trial. It does not reflect the justice Ilson Kim deserves. Everyone responsible for her murder must be identified and held accountable. Our fight for truth and justice is far from over.”
Dobbins’ criminal history allowed her petty theft charge to be filed as the more significant felony classification, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
“The defendants in this case had different criminal histories that contributed toward their filed charges,” a spokesman for the office said.
Court records show the plea agreement did not include any sentencing range.
“I have not been offered any hope of reward, better treatment or certain type of sentence to get me to enter this plea of guilty or no contest,” Pulliam’s four-page plea acknowledgement stated. “I have not been promised by anyone, including my attorney, that I would actually serve any certain amount of time.”
What about the driver who struck Ilson Kim?
The agreement also did not specifically indicate if Pulliam cooperated with the remaining investigation into the third person involved ― the driver.
“The driver in this case remains at large — should anyone in the public have information, they should contact law enforcement,” the State Attorney’s Office said.
That person, only identified in court by Dobbins as “City,” remains unaccounted for as the man who backed into Kim to escape with Pulliam and leave Dobbins behind but later pick her back up, records show. Kim ran out after Pulliam who was getting away with the merchandise. The three had pulled into a handicapped parking spot together at the Atlantic Boulevard beauty store, and then Pulliam and Dobbins are seen on security video perusing around the store for 20 minutes before the incident.
Dobbins didn’t actually take anything but was deemed a co-conspirator and also is seen in the video walking past Kim and offering no assistance, according to an arrest report.
What about Tashina Dobbins?
She has filed a notice of appeal to the District Court.
Dobbins is also awaiting trial on separate charges from a Family Dollar store robbery on March 31, which was the same day she was a no-show for her original sentencing date, court records show. Those charges are strong-arm robbery without a weapon, conspiring to commit retail theft with intent to sell stolen property – $750 or more, second offense, and act with others to distract in order to commit retail theft of $750 or more.
During her May 30 sentencing, Dobbins denied they had planned to steal anything but started to figure it out and then froze while walking out of the store.
“If I could take it back, I would,” Dobbins said sobbing. “I just keep imagining what if it was me. … I am not this person, but I accept responsibility, and I’m sorry.”
Borello didn’t mince his words, though, in sentencing her to the maximum under the law.
“I want to make it abundantly clear to you, Miss Dobbins, that I am not sentencing you based on whether or not I believe that you told the court the truth here today,” he told her. “However, in the interest of transparency, I will be frank with you and tell you I don’t know how much of what you said here was the truth. It seems relatively clear that there were certainly aspects of your testimony today that were not true.”
Kim’s two daughters also provided powerful victim impact statements about the loss of their mother and what she meant to others in the community, and the the coldness and lies by the defendant.
Anyone with information about the driver in the case can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500 or First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-8477 (845-TIPS) or text **8477 to remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards. Or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org or rewards@fccrimestoppers.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 2nd shoplifter in Jacksonville store owner’s death gets 10 months; the first got 10 years
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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