BENTONVILLE -- A Peoria, Ill., woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison for her role in an armed home invasion in Rogers last year.
Maria Serrano, 19, pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated residential burglary, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and first-degree terroristic threatening. The plea came under an agreement attorney Robert Rhoads reached with Sam Martin, deputy prosecutor.
Serrano, Morissa Ann Jackson and Kristinlin Bayler, both 20 and of Peoria, were arrested April 6, 2014.
Natalie Tovar called police after she had 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, but the family didn't report it immediately because they had been threatened and told not to call police, according to court documents.
Juan Pozos, one of the residents in the home, said that when his mother-in-law opened the door, three people armed with guns came inside. Pozos, his mother-in-law and another relative were handcuffed, the affidavit states.
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, according to court documents.
Serrano told police she wore a uniform during the robbery and the three planned to present themselves as FBI and immigration agents, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Circuit Judge Robin Green accepted the plea agreement and Serrano's guilty plea. Serrano must serve at least 70 percent of the sentence before she will be eligible for parole. She must also abide by a suspended sentence agreement for six years after her release from prison.
Jackson previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Bayler's case hasn't been resolved. His next court appearance is set for 8:30 a.m. June 15.
NW News on 05/06/2015