Hiwasse man sentenced for bank robbery

BENTONVILLE -- A Hiwasse man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing a Rogers bank last year.

Jeremy McKinley Jarvis, 33, pleaded guilty last Wednesday to aggravated robbery, a Class Y felony; and theft of property, a Class C felony. The plea came under an agreement Jay Saxton, Jarvis' attorney, reached with Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor.

Jarvis was arrested Dec. 13.

Cearley told Circuit Judge Brad Karren that Jarvis went to Regions Bank, 1800 W. Walnut St., on Dec. 13. Jarvis stole thousands of dollars from the bank, according to Cearley. Jarvis implied he had a weapon, but one was never found.

Bank employees described to police a man wearing tan overalls, white gloves and a camouflage face wrap. A bank employee asked the man to remove the face wrap, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Jarvis removed the face wrap. He then waited in line.

Jarvis put a backpack on the counter and demanded money. He also said, "No trackers and no dye packs," according to court documents. Jarvis left the bank with $17,722 in the backpack.

Police recovered all of the money except for $80, Cearley said.

Karren accepted the plea agreement and Jarvis' guilty pleas.

Jarvis was given 10-year sentences for the aggravated robbery and theft of property offences. The sentences will be served concurrently. Jarvis must serve at least seven years in the Arkansas Department of Correction before he will be eligible for parole.

Jarvis must abide by a suspended-sentence agreement for 10 years after his release from prison. He must pay $1,850 in court costs and $80 in restitution for the money police didn't recover.