BENTONVILLE -- A Peoria, Ill., man admitted his role in an armed home invasion and said he wanted to be a better person for his daughter.
Kristin Lin Bayler, 20, pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated robbery, aggravated residential burglary, kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening and intimidating a witness. His plea came under an agreement Kathryn Moore, Bayler's attorney reached with Sam Martin, deputy prosecutor.
Bayler was sentenced to 17 years in prison. He must serve 70 percent of the sentence before he will be eligible for parole.
"I will do my time and get out and be a better person for my daughter," Bayler told Circuit Judge Robin Green.
Bayler, Maria Serrano, and Morissa Ann Jackson were arrested April 6, 2014. Natalie Tovar called Rogers police after she returned home from work and discovered her family had been kidnapped, handcuffed and held at gunpoint by people who claimed to be federal agents, according to court documents.
The incident happened at 3 a.m. April 6, 2014, but the family didn't report it immediately because they had been threatened and told not to call police.
Juan Pozos, one of the residents in the home, said when his mother-in-law opened the door, three people armed with guns came in. Pozos, his mother-in-law and another relative were handcuffed.
Pozos said he was driven to a bank at gunpoint, according to the probable cause affidavit. One of the intruders remained at the home with Pozos' family while he withdrew $300 from an ATM.
Serrano told police she wore a uniform during the robbery. The three planned to present themselves as FBI and immigration agents.
Green accepted the plea agreement and Bayler's guilty pleas.
Bayler must abide by a suspended sentence agreement for six years after his release from prison.
He must pay $2,270 in court costs. Bayler also was ordered not to have any contact with the victims.
Moore asked Green to re-instate Bayler's communication privileges at the jail. He lost the privileges after he sent a threat to a witness.
"He just wants to be able to communicate with his family," Moore said.
Green told Bayler she would reinstate the privileges since he took responsibility for his actions. She warned him he would face the consequences if he violated the communication privileges.
Serrano, 19, and Jackson, 20, both also of Peoria, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison. Serrano was sentenced to 14 years. Jackson was sentenced to 25 years.
NW News on 06/16/2015