A man who was stealing televisions from hotel and motel rooms in the Texarkana area was sentenced Monday to five years probation.
James Jerell Robinson, 25, was arrested Oct. 22 by Texarkana, Texas, police at a hotel on Mall Drive. Using a vehicle description from a television theft from a different motel room a few days before, police pulled over a silver Volkswagon being driven by Robinson, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Robinson had been entering local hotels and stealing televisions from rooms for weeks. When his Volkswagon was pulled over officers could see two sets on the back seat and later found three more in the trunk.
While speaking with three different officers at different times on the day of his arrest, Robinson offered each of them $300 to set him free.
Robinson pleaded guilty last month to theft, three counts of burglary of a building and three counts of bribery. Monday he was sentenced to a five-year deferred adjudication probation by 202nd District Judge John Tidwell after Tidwell confirmed that Robinson has never been before convicted of a felony. If Robinson successfully completes probation, he will not have a felony conviction on his record.
Tidwell ordered Robinson to complete an in-patient treatment program, an employment program and other classes while on probation. Tidwell ordered a $2,500 fine and court costs and ordered Robinson to complete 240 hours of community service.
Robinson was represented at the hearing by Assistant Public Defender Clayton Haas.
