A Rolling Fork man was acquitted this week in Sharkey County Circuit Court following a two-day trial.

Arsenio Odems, 21, 97 Sharkey St., had been charged with armed robbery and being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon.

Odems was accused of robbing a Rolling Fork woman outside her home Jan. 26, said Assistant District Attorney Angela Carpenter, who prosecuted the case.

Jurors, sworn in Monday by presiding Judge M. James Chaney, deliberated for about 3 1/2 hours before returning their verdict Tuesday.

Carpenter said the woman, who lived near Odems, testified that she saw him at a convenience store, then returned home where he robbed her at gunpoint, taking her purse containing $100, credit cards and other items.

The purse, minus the cash, was later recovered in a car belonging to another man, said Carpenter. That man testified that when he got in his car and discovered the purse he immediately called police.

Also testifying was an inmate from the Issaquena County Jail who said Odems had confessed the robbery to him.

No weapon was found in Odems’ possession, however.

Odems, who was defended by Jackson attorney Charlie Carr, did not testify.

Assistant District Attorney Tom Setser assisted in the prosecution.

Also in Sharkey County this week, Irwin Lynn Clark, 47, 322 W. China St., Rolling Fork, pleaded guilty to business burglary and felony malicious mischief and was sentenced by Chaney to one year and one day in prison followed by three years of probation, plus a $1,000 fine, $1,900 in restitution and $322.50 in court costs. Clark was arrested March 23.