Asheville -- September 2, 2026: A 31-year-old man will spend more than five years in state prison after pleading guilty to an armed robbery at a landmark downtown retailer, the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office announced today.
Joshua Aaron Rice, 31, entered a guilty plea in Buncombe County Superior Court to one count of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. Following the plea, a Superior Court judge sentenced Rice to an active prison term of 67 to 90 months in the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction.
Case Background
The Incident: On June 22, 2025, Asheville Police Department officers were dispatched to an armed robbery at Mast General Store, located at 15 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville.
The Confrontation: Store management reported that Rice shoplifted store merchandise and, when confronted by staff, threatened an employee with a sheathed fixed-blade knife before fleeing the scene.
The Arrest: Officers conducted a coordinated search of downtown and located Rice shortly afterward at nearby Aston Park, wearing clothing that matched witness descriptions.
Evidence Seized: During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered the stolen merchandise, drug paraphernalia, and the knife, which was found attached to Rice's backpack.