BENTONVILLE — Anthony Timothy Barnes was sentenced to 65 years in prison Wednesday after admitting he robbed four Rogers banks.
Barnes, 34, of Rogers, pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of aggravated robbery, a Class Y felony; and two counts of theft of property a Class B felony.
He faced from 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment for each count of aggravated robbery and from five to 20 years for each theft charge.
The case was resolved through a plea agreement attorney Drew Ledbetter reached with Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor.
Cearley gave a summary of Barnes’ crimes to Circuit Judge Robin Green.
Barnes held two bank employees at gunpoint and took more than $25,000 from the Metropolitan National Bank on South Pleasant Crossing Parkway in Rogers on Nov. 1, 2011, according to court documents. Police later recovered all the money, Cearley said.
At A Glance
Washington County Cases
Anthony Timothy Barnes of Rogers also faces charges in Washington County in connection with six bank robberies. The robberies occurred between June 2007 and March 2009. Two were at the same bank in Springdale.
- Priority Bank, East Mission Boulevard, Fayetteville
- Legacy National Bank, Butterfield Coach Road, Springdale
- Regions Bank, Sunset Avenue, Springdale
- Pulaski Bank, Robinson Avenue, Springdale
- Pulaski Bank, Robinson Avenue, Springdale
- First Federal Bank, Henri di Tonti Boulevard, Tontitown
Source: Staff Report
Cearley told the court Barnes was free on bond in connection with three other bank robberies at the time of the crime. Barnes had been released on $20,000 bond and ordered to wear an ankle monitor, according to court documents.
Barnes initially was arrested July 3, 2009, in connection with two bank robberies that day.
According to court documents, Barnes left the Bank of the Ozarks at 800 N. 47th St. in Rogers with more than $2,500. A teller slipped a tracking device into the money bag. Police were able to find Barnes through the tracking device, according to court documents.
Less than an hour earlier, Barnes left First Federal Bank at 1303 W. Hudson Road in Rogers without any money. He brandished a pistol that turned out to be a BB gun, according to court documents.
Barnes later was arrested in connection with a May 2009 robbery at First Western Bank in Rogers.
Green asked Barnes if was he guilty of the acts.
“Yes ma’am,” said Barnes, who was dressed in red and white striped jail attire. Barnes declined to make any further statement when Green gave him the opportunity.
Cearley told Green victims and law enforcement were in favor of the plea agreement.
Green accepted the plea agreement and Barnes’ guilty plea.
Barnes was sentenced to 35 years for the three 2009 robberies. He also received a 20-year sentence for a theft of property charge. The sentences will be served concurrently.
He was sentenced to 30 years for the 2011 robbery and received a 10-year suspended sentence for the other theft charge.
The robbery sentences will be served consecutively — a total of 65 years in prison. He must serve 70 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole and must pay $1,420 in court costs and $20,770 in restitution.
Barnes received 708 days of credit for the time he spent in the Benton County Jail awaiting trial. Barnes is awaiting transfer to the Arkansas Department of Correction.