Bryant gets life sentence for aggravated robbery in Marlin

Ronald James Bryant, 63, was found guilty of aggravated robbery by a Falls County Jury on Nov. 4 and was handed a Life sentence and a $10,000 fine from the jury.

On April 30, 2019, Bryant, disguised in an orange hoody with long hair extensions tucked under a ballcap, sunglasses and large bag over his shoulder, entered the BBVA Compass bank in Marlin around 12:30 p.m.  While the bank manager, another bank employee, and two customers sat at a table in the lobby area, Bryant walked without hesitation to the lone bank teller.  Bryant pulled a gun from the bag, put the bag on the counter and instructed the teller to give him money but to not include the dye pack or bait money.  The teller did as she was told while Bryant pointed the weapon at her. 

District Attorney Jody Gilliam called the teller as a witness who told the jury, with the aid of the bank surveillance camera, step-by-step how the events unfolded.  

“Although COVID events and courthouse renovations slowed the prosecution of this case, the two and a half year delay, clearly had not diminished the terror or fear inflicted on the teller that day,” Gilliam said.

Evidence at trial showed law enforcement officers reviewed surveillance video from surrounding stores and a white Mercedes vehicle was developed as the robber’s vehicle, which headed West out of Marlin on Highway 7.  Pictures of that vehicle, and the suspect at the bank, were shared with surrounding agencies.

“Lott Police Chief Michael Hamilton was instrumental in the apprehension of Bryant,” Gilliam said.  “He recognized the vehicle immediately as one owned by a citizen in Lott and remembered a man had shown up in Lott about a year prior who very much resembled the photo of the robber.  This man was in a relationship with the woman who owned the white Mercedes.”

Law enforcement officers converged on Lott and Bryant was taken into custody around 4:30 p.m. that same day.  Officer searched the Mercedes finding a CO2 powered BB gun hidden in the trunk of the Mercedes and $180.00 hidden in a pouch in the backseat.  A search of Bryant’s residence revealed tennis shoes matching the ones worn by the robber and $3,167.00 wrapped in blue wrapping tissue hidden in a closet.  Officers also found hair extension pieces.  

“Identity was the key issue in the case, and Bryant looked very much like the pictures of the robber from bank surveillance video, even with a disguise,” Gilliam said.

Punishment evidence showed Bryant had a history of robbing banks in Florida.  His longest previous sentence was a 30-year sentence from a Federal Court in Florida for armed bank robbery with hostages.  

“He had just been paroled in 2017,” Gilliam said. “Bryant’s life sentence in this case should keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.”