Woodley sentenced in 2024 Olive Branch City Park robbery
Photo: District Attorney Matthew Barton comments on the sentencing of Rakeem Woodley (left). (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
June 3, 2025 – A man charged in the early morning strong arm robbery of an elderly woman at the Olive Branch City Park last July has pleaded guilty to three felony counts in connection with the incident. Rakeem Woodley, who has had previous felony arrests in Wisconsin, will now spend up to 35 years in a Mississippi prison on those charges.
Woodley, who District Attorney Matthew Barton said had been previously arrested and served time in state prison for auto theft in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty to strong arm robbery, take car, or stealing a car, and felony fleeing. Woodley was sentenced to 15 years on the strong arm robbery charge, and 10 years each on the take car and felony fleeing charges, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Woodley was accused of approaching a 74-year-old woman out for a walk at City Park about 6 a.m. the morning of July 1, 2024. He motioned to the woman as if he had a weapon, and then took off with the woman’s vehicle. An actual weapon was not revealed, hence the strong arm robbery charge, instead of an armed robbery charge.
The victim called the Olive Branch Police Department and Woodley was apprehended a short time later by officers. No one was injured in the robbery and later apprehension.
Assistant District Attorney Steven Jubera prosecuted the case and Barton also credited the Olive Branch Police Department for their quick response, along with the use of cameras that recorded the incident in the park and helped in the prosecution.
“We were able to catch a lot of this on cameras that are owned by the Olive Branch Police Department that really helps us to get the results we need,” Barton said. “I think Olive Branch is fortunate to have a city that that funds the equipment that the police need so that we can follow up and do our job.”
The announcement of Woodley’s sentencing was held in a news conference setting to underscore the incident was isolated and not part of an alarming trend, as Mayor Ken Adams was quick to point out.
“Our parks are really known for their safety, and a lot of citizens, residents, and a lot of children are in and out of them,” Adams said. “This was a one time type situation that occurred,” with Barton adding, “This is not a reflection of Olive Branch as a community. This is not gang related and this is not an indication of an ongoing issue. This is just one bad actor that’s not from here, came here from out of state and did something rather stupid.”
Barton said that Woodley was in the process of being transferred to a state facility in Mississippi and it will be up to the Department of Corrections to determine where that will be.
