Man Sentenced In Bank Robberies

A Newport, Wash., man must spend almost seven years in prison for robbing three banks in Spokane in 1993.

Arthur W. Schultz, 47, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle to serve 83 months in federal prison.

Schultz must complete five years of supervision upon his release.

The judge also ordered Schultz to pay $9,450 in restitution to three Spokane banks he admitted robbing.

Schultz will begin making restitution by participating in the Inmate Financial Responsibility Program. That program uses the money an inmate makes from a prison job to repay victims.

At sentencing, Schultz said he robbed the banks to obtain money to support his heroin addiction.

He robbed the Seattle FirstNational Bank, 7514 N. Division, of $2,250 on Dec. 15, 1993. Eight days later, he held up Washington Mutual, 5508 N. Division, and fled with $1,700.

On Dec. 29, 1993, he robbed Farmers & Merchants Bank, 6622 N. Division, of $5,500.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Harrington said Schultz displayed a handgun in the last two robberies.

Schultz was arrested in January 1994 in Lodi, Calif., after he attempted to sell cocaine to undercover police officers.

, DataTimes