Robber gets 45 years

Man linked to bank, gold store robberies

Nathan Chism, 32, speaks with his attorney Marianne Hudson before he was sentenced to 45 years in prison Wednesday.
Nathan Chism, 32, speaks with his attorney Marianne Hudson before he was sentenced to 45 years in prison Wednesday.

— The man accused of robbing a gold and silver store and two Dickson Street banks was sentenced to 45 years in state prison.

Nathan Chism, 32, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, aggravated robbery and two counts of robbery. Circuit Judge William Storey sentenced Chism to serve two 45-year concurrent sentences for the attempted murder and aggravated robbery. He also sentenced Chism to 20 concurrent years on each of the remaining two charges.

He was originally charged in July with attempted capital murder and three counts of aggravated robbery. He was also charged with being a habitual offender.

Chism attempted to rob the Arkansas Gold and Silver Exchange on College Avenue on July 21. He was shot twice by an employee after Chism reportedly stabbed the person in the shoulder.

Police linked Chism to the May 6 robbery of the Bank of Fayetteville’s “train bank” at 542 W. Dickson St. and the June 16 robbery of a Bank of America branch at 703 W. Dickson St.

Washington County Circuit Court records indicate that Chism has been convicted of numerous felony charges dating back to 2001, including delivery of a controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, second-degree forgery, theft, failure to pay child support, first-degree terroristic threatening and possession of a controlled substance.

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