Man gets 40 years for aggravated robbery

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New Boston, Texas: A man who stole cash and more than $1,800 worth of scratch off lottery tickets during the armed robbery of a convenience store last year was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday at the end of a trial in Bowie County.

Jason Edward Dillinger, 39, wore a black bandana, black hat and black gloves when he pointed a gun in the face of a female clerk at about 1 a.m. March 10, 2017 at the Wendy’s Exxon on New Boston Road in Texarkana, Texas. Dillinger demanded cash and $20 and $50 lottery tickets.

Using video surveillance footage, officers were able to identify a man seen speaking to Dillinger in the parking lot shortly before the robbery who was able to identify Dillinger. Officers arrested Dillinger at his mother’s home on Levi Jackson Road in Texarkana, Texas, the following day. Officers found scratch off tickets from the Exxon robbery in bags Dillinger had placed in his mother’s bedroom and under his mother’s mattress.

Dillinger represented himself during his trial. He asked that a jury decide his guilt but chose to have 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart decide his punishment. During the punishment phase Lockhart heard testimony about Dillinger’s prior criminal history including convictions for felony driving while intoxicated and domestic violence.

Lockhart heard testimony from a woman whose purse was stolen from her grocery cart at Albertson’s on Richmond Road on Christmas Eve 2016. As the woman was putting a poinsettia plant in her car, Dillinger grabbed her purse and fled.

Lockhart sentenced Dillinger to a 40-year prison term. Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp led the prosecution.

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