A Siloam Springs man was sentenced to 14 years in prison Friday for robbing a convenience store with a sawed-off shotgun.
Chris Ward, 30, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated robbery, a Class Y felony, and possession of a firearm by certain persons, a Class B felony. Ward was also charged as a habitual offender.
The plea was under an agreement that Ward’s attorney Tim Weaver reached with Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor.
He was arrested Feb. 9, 2012.
Cearley told the judge that Ward, armed with a sawed-off shotgun on Dec. 19, 2011, entered the Flash Market Covenience Store at 998 S. Lincoln St. in Siloam Springs. Ward pointed the weapon at the store clerk and demanded her to open the cash register, according to court documents.
Ward fled the store with $300 in cash and more than $300 worth of cigarettes, Cearley said.
Ward was scheduled to have a suppression hearing Thursday afternoon, but instead he decided to resolve the case through the plea agreement. He spent time talking with Weaver before his case was called.
The judge accepted the plea agreement and Ward’s guilty pleas.
Ward was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He will have to serve at least 14 years before he will be eligible for parole.
He must abide by a suspended sentence agreement for 10 years after his release from prison.
Ward must pay $1,170 in court associated costs and $650 in victim restitution.