By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 27-year-old Maylene woman has entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to a first-degree robbery charge brought against her after the 2016 armed robbery of a Montevallo Subway restaurant.

Tierra Symone Dent, who lists an address on Meadow Circle in Maylene, entered the pleas in late June, according to Shelby County Circuit Court records. She is now set to appear in court on Oct. 2 at 8:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Bill Bostick.

On May 12, 2016, Montevallo police took to social media to request the public’s help in identifying a suspect who allegedly robbed the restaurant, which is on Main Street in downtown Montevallo.

Photos posted on the department’s Facebook page depicted a woman dressed in black clothing and a black cap flashing a handgun to the restaurant’s cashier after ordering a sandwich.

Through tips from the community, Montevallo Police were able to identify the suspect as Tierra Symone Dent, who lists an address on Meadow Circle in Maylene, and take her into custody on May 25, 2016.

Dent is facing a felony charge of first-degree robbery and a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree theft of property, and was released from the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $31,000 on June 3. She was indicted on the two charges in January.

According to her arrest warrants, Dent allegedly stole money, food and a drink from the restaurant – The total value of which was less than $500 – while she was armed with a handgun.

First-degree robbery is a Class A felony, and is punishable by up to life in prison upon conviction.