| Judge Richard Facemire "threw the book" at Gilmer County's Putnam brothers, after they held-up the Burnsville branch of the Bank of Gassaway at gunpoint.
Matthew Gilbert and Timothy Elvis Putnam had plead guilty to one count each of bank robbery by presentment of a deadly weapon, a felony, and to conspiracy, also a felony.
Braxton Prosecuting Attorney William Martin opposed the defendant's motion for probation or home confinement.
Judge Facemire said that Matthew Putnam had appeared before him for another felony offense and was sentenced to the Anthony Center, after which he had been granted parole.
Matthew Putnam had eleven prior offenses, not including those involving the bank robbery. The defendant violated the terms of his parole when he committed that robbery.
Judge Facemire informed Putnam that there was no way that he could understand or justify his actions.
Facemire denied the defendant's motion for probation and home confinement and ordered that the defendant be sentenced to not less than ten nor more than twenty-five years in the penitentiary for the felony offense of bank robbery.
He further ordered that the defendant be sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in the penitentiary for the felony offense of conspiracy. He denied the request that the sentences run concurrently.
Judge Facemire told Timothy Elvis Putnam that while his criminal record was not as extensive as his brothers, he did have a past criminal history of a serious nature.
Timothy Putnam was given the same sentences and terms as his brother.
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