Man sentenced to 30 years in stabbing of cashier at Fort Worth Kroger, authorities say
A man who pleaded guilty to stabbing a 21-year-old cashier during a robbery at a Fort Worth Kroger was sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to Tarrant County prosecutors.
Michael Pitts, 38, had pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in the incident, according to a news release posted on Wednesday, Dec. 18, on the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office Facebook page.
“I believe your choice was egregious and selfish,” the victim told Pitts during allocution, according to the post.
Mariah Smith was stabbed by Pitts in the abdomen with a knife at the Kroger at 9114 Camp Bowie W. Blvd. on May 1, according to Fort Worth police.
Pitts approached Smith from behind and demanded she open her cash register, but she couldn’t because she was in the middle of scanning a customer’s groceries and the register was locked. When Smith turned around, she was stabbed, she told Star-Telegram during a conversation in May.
Smith spent eight days in hospital and she had to undergo an emergency surgery, where medical personnel had to remove her spleen, part of her pancreas and one of her kidneys.
“She has lingering health issues from the incident,” the DA’s office said.
This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 7:58 PM.