BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday for his role in the armed robbery of a convenience store.
Fransisco Vera-Ayala, 23, pleaded guilty to robbery, punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years. He originally was charged with aggravated robbery and faced from 10 to 40 years in prison or life.
Vera-Ayala agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge in a plea agreement reached by attorney Octavio Sanchez and Brynna Barnica, deputy prosecutor.
Vera-Ayala was arrested Nov. 7.
Springdale police responded to a call at 4:15 a.m. Nov. 7 from the White Oak Station at 4128 Wagon Wheel Road, according to court documents.
A clerk reported that two men came into the store through the back entrance and purchased a pack of gum, according to probable cause affidavit. They purchased a second pack of gum and then demanded money, the affidavit states.
The clerk opened the cash drawer and both men took money and then left, according to court documents. Police identified Vera-Ayala and Omar Martin-Del Campo as suspects, according to court documents.
Vera-Ayala told police that he and Martin-Del Campo were driving around and decided to rob the convenience store, according to court documents. Martin-Del Campo admitted that he was the one who showed a gun, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Circuit Judge Robin Green accepted the plea agreement and Vera-Ayala's guilty plea.
Vera-Ayala was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He received 129 days of jail credit for the time he spent in the Benton County Jail awaiting trial. Vera-Ayala must pay $1,420 in court costs.
Martin-Del Campo, 23, of Lowell also appeared in court Monday. His case was reset to April 20. He is being held in the county jail on a $100,000 bond.
Tracy M. Neal can be reached by email at [email protected] or Twitter @NWATracy.
NW News on 03/17/2015