Man gets 85 years for bank robbery

A Lafayette County jury Wednesday sentenced Lonnie Hamilton Jr. to a total of 85 years in prison for robbing the Farmers Bank & Trust in Lewisville, Ark., and firing two gunshots at two customers.

The jury found Hamilton, 34, guilty of the bank robbery, which occurred May 22.

The jury sentenced Hamilton to 55 years in prison for the aggravated robbery charge, 15 years for the first aggravated assault charge and another 15 years for the second aggravated assault charge. The total prison sentence was 85 years, said David Cotten, deputy prosecuting attorney for the 8th Judicial District South.

The aggravated assault charges were filed for firing a pistol at customer Glen Holly inside the bank and firing a gun at another customer, Cecil Moe Talley, who was outside of the bank.

Hamilton “put on a big show” prior to the

start of the trial Monday in the Lewisville Circuit Court, Cotten said.

In the courtroom, Hamilton claimed he had taken “a bunch of medication” and had cut himself.

“He slumped over a chair and fell down to the ground. Then he stood up and yelled. Eventually he laid on the floor and then stood up and yelled he ‘didn’t want any help’ and he didn’t want to be judged. He just wanted to die. He put on a big show,” said Cotten.

Hamilton had blood on his shirt and it was uncertain how he cut himself. Cotten said Hamilton may have cut himself with a fingernail, a pen or a small piece of glass. “They never got a straight answer on how he cut himself. I heard he did all three,” he said.

Hamilton was taken to a hospital for evaluation to determine if had taken medications. The hospital staff cleared Hamilton, allowing him to return to court Monday afternoon.

Cotten praised the Lafayette

County jury.

“I really respect the jury’s decision. They paid a great deal of attention and I was impressed by the jury,” Cotten said.