FAYETTEVILLE — Two men pleaded guilty Monday to several charges related to an armed robbery outside a Springdale home in September 2012.
Robert K. Barber Jr., 28, of Marianna, and Keith Matthews, 24, of Fayetteville, pleaded guilty in Washington County Circuit Court to robbery, theft of property and possession of a firearm by a felon. Both are considered habitual offenders because they have multiple prior felony convictions.
Matthews also pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of possessing Ecstasy. Unrelated charges of domestic battery and criminal mischief were dropped.
Both Barber and Matthews were sentenced to 40 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 28 years suspended. Barber was given credit for 415 days jail time served. Matthews was given credit for 333 days time served.
Both will be allowed to stay out of jail until Dec. 2 if they can make bonds of $25,000 and $30,000, respectively.
“I hope you will conclude this life of crime isn’t worth it,” Washington County Circuit Judge William Storey told the pair. “I hope that going forward you will decide to put your intelligence to good use.”
Prosecutors and defense attorneys worked out the plea deal late Monday afternoon. The case had been set for trial today.
“I think the work done by the Springdale Police Department to catch these guys who thought they committed the perfect crime was outstanding,” said Denis Dean, deputy prosecuting attorney. “Folks are starting to learn that committing crimes in Northwest Arkansas carries a severe penalty.”
Two people told Springdale police they were robbed at 3:28 a.m., Sept. 25, 2012, in a parking lot outside 1509 Oriole Ave., according to police reports. They described the robbers as two black men wearing Halloween masks. A debit card was taken in the robbery.
Police found a mask near the scene that was purchased at Walmart, according to reports. A review of Walmart surveillance video showed the only purchase that day of Halloween masks was by two black men accompanied by two black women.
Police were able to identify one of the men and one of the women, according to reports. The woman, when questioned, admitted driving Barber and Matthews to Oriole Street.
Both men were in the Washington County Detention Center in connection with another case when they were arrested in connection with the Springdale incident.
Barber has a prior conviction for armed robbery in Marianna and a felony drug conviction earlier this year in Washington County.
Matthews has a conviction for robbery in 2007 in Washington County. He received 15 years and was on parole at the time of the Springdale robbery.