LISA MARCHESONI, Senior Writer
Posted: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 2:51 pm

Suspects James Pittard and Ashton Garza are escorted to court after being accused of robbing an beating two Eagleville senior citizens.

Three men accused of beating and robbing two senior citizens at their Eagleville home were appointed attorneys during brief hearings Tuesday in General Sessions Court.

Suspects Ronald W. Damon, 36, of 901 W. Main St.; Ashton Garza, 19, of 5636 Constantine Dr., Rockvale; and James Charles Pittard, 20, of 2198 West Green Hill Road, McMinnville, were charged last Wednesday with especially aggravated burglary, especially aggravated kidnapping (two counts) and aggravated robbery (two counts) by sheriff's Detective Steve Kohler and Detective Bryant Gregory.

They were accused of beating and robbing Cecil Story, 86, and his wife, Edna, 93, who weighs 60 pounds during a home invasion Dec. 27 at their Eagleville home.

Members of their church attended the brief hearing where General Sessions Court Judge Ben McFarlin appointed attorneys to represent the three men who are being held without bond. A preliminary hearing is set Jan. 13.

Pittard’s father, Billy, of Murfreesboro, said he was “very surprised” at his son’s arrest.

“It’s not like him to do this,” Billy Pittard said. “He cars about elderly people. He got with the wrong bunch.”

Pittard said he will support his son who supported him when he was “the biggest drunk in Murfreesboro.”

“I will be there throughout and I will be here when he gets out,” the father said.

The father warned his son he ran with the wrong crowd.

“Maybe it took this for him to hear what God is doing in his life,” the father said. “This is not God leading him.”