Females get lighter sentences than Males
‘Barbie bandits’ sentenced for bank robbery
1 goes to prison, other gets probation for heist followed by shopping spree
Heather Lyn Johnston, left, and Ashley Nichole Miller are seen in police booking photos from February 2007. Johnston was sentenced to 10 years probation. Miller must serve two years in prison, then eight years on probation.
MARIETTA, Ga. - The “Barbie bandits” who went on a shopping spree after they were videotaped wearing sunglasses and laughing during an $11,000 bank heist were sentenced Monday, one to prison and another to probation.
Ashley Miller, 19, will have to serve only two years of a 10-year prison sentence and must complete the rest on probation. She pleaded guilty to theft and drug charges.
Heather Johnston, also 19, was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for her role in the February 2007 heist in Acworth, northwest of Atlanta.
The two were caught on tape as they appeared to rob a Bank of America branch in a supermarket. They admitted to plotting with a teller to take the money and later going on a shopping binge that included a stop in a fashionable hair salon.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley urged Miller to learn from her crimes.
“I want you to correct yourself,” Staley told Miller, a former exotic dancer. “There’s no reason you can’t become a productive citizen when you get out of jail.”
Miller’s mother and sister hugged and kissed her before deputies led her out of the courtroom.
Benny Allen — who worked at the bank as a teller — was sentenced to 10 years, to serve five. The judge imposed an additional penalty on Allen because she said he did not testify truthfully in the trial of Michael Chastang, a co-defendant convicted of his role in plotting the heist. Chastang is to be sentenced Tuesday.
Johnston was the first of the group to plead guilty, speeding up the prosecution of her co-defendants.
During her sentencing hearing, Johnston took the witness stand and between sobs apologized for hurting and embarrassing her family and friends.
“A lot of people look down on me,” Johnston said. “I feel terrible. I want to set a good example for my little sister. She’s a great kid. I don’t want her to end up like me.”
* * * *
* * * *
I resisted getting mugged on my own property and I received worse punishment than at least one of these bank robbers. [more]
1 goes to prison, other gets probation for heist followed by shopping spree
Heather Lyn Johnston, left, and Ashley Nichole Miller are seen in police booking photos from February 2007. Johnston was sentenced to 10 years probation. Miller must serve two years in prison, then eight years on probation.
MARIETTA, Ga. - The “Barbie bandits” who went on a shopping spree after they were videotaped wearing sunglasses and laughing during an $11,000 bank heist were sentenced Monday, one to prison and another to probation.
Ashley Miller, 19, will have to serve only two years of a 10-year prison sentence and must complete the rest on probation. She pleaded guilty to theft and drug charges.
Heather Johnston, also 19, was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for her role in the February 2007 heist in Acworth, northwest of Atlanta.
The two were caught on tape as they appeared to rob a Bank of America branch in a supermarket. They admitted to plotting with a teller to take the money and later going on a shopping binge that included a stop in a fashionable hair salon.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley urged Miller to learn from her crimes.
“I want you to correct yourself,” Staley told Miller, a former exotic dancer. “There’s no reason you can’t become a productive citizen when you get out of jail.”
Miller’s mother and sister hugged and kissed her before deputies led her out of the courtroom.
Benny Allen — who worked at the bank as a teller — was sentenced to 10 years, to serve five. The judge imposed an additional penalty on Allen because she said he did not testify truthfully in the trial of Michael Chastang, a co-defendant convicted of his role in plotting the heist. Chastang is to be sentenced Tuesday.
Johnston was the first of the group to plead guilty, speeding up the prosecution of her co-defendants.
During her sentencing hearing, Johnston took the witness stand and between sobs apologized for hurting and embarrassing her family and friends.
“A lot of people look down on me,” Johnston said. “I feel terrible. I want to set a good example for my little sister. She’s a great kid. I don’t want her to end up like me.”
* * * *
* * * *
I resisted getting mugged on my own property and I received worse punishment than at least one of these bank robbers. [more]
posted by The Stark Raving Viking at 3/24/2008 06:36:00 PM
3 Comments:
Hello? They robbed the bank. I just don't understand. These two should be serving as much, if not more, time than the teller.
I feel no sympathy for the two bimbos. They stole so they could buy drugs and go shopping. Stealing is wrong, but if a person steals because their children are hungry I say give them a break. Those two will never be "productive" citizens. I'll wager a bet with anyone they do something like this again the first chance they get.
This bank robbery has been down played from the start. All four are guilty of this crime. It is such an injustice that when young white kids commit a crime, the perception is "Oh they just made a mistake give them another chance at life" But when it is black kids involve they get a more severe sentence. This happens on a daily basis- do the research!
To Anonymous: We are not afraid of young, white, blond women in America. We are afraid of young, black men. So, there is no need to lock the ladies up, but every reason to lock up the guys. As Richard Pryor said, "If you're looking for justice, go down to the jail and that's what you'll find, just us".
This was a crime of violence. Both women should have received prison terms. The fact that our justice system rewards people for betraying their friends is a sad consequence of prosecutors taking the short cut to a conviction so they can maximize their success rate.
Post a Comment
<< Home