Man Convicted of East Cobb Armed Robbery Gets Life Sentence

An Alabama man previously convicted of two armed robberies will spend the rest of his life in prison following a third such conviction in a Cobb County courtroom.

According to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, James Arrington, 46, of Montgomery, AL, was convicted last week of armed robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping with bodily injury and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon during commission of a crime.

As this is Arrington’s third armed robbery conviction, Superior Court Judge J. Stephen Schuster sentenced Arrington as a recidivist to a life term in prison without parole, with an extra 15 years for the weapons charge.

“Mr. Arrington is a dangerous repeat offender, having previously been convicted of two armed robberies in Montgomery, Alabama,” Assistant District Attorney Theresa Schiefer said in court. “His own arrogance sealed the prison doors behind him. This life sentence makes the community safer and more secure.”

On Nov. 3, 2012 at approximately 6 a.m., Arrington and another man robbed an unmarked van carrying $100,000 and ATMs that were to be set up at various festivals. One of the employees in the van was taken into the rear of the vehicle, beaten with a metal pipe, and threatened with death. The other employee was forced to drive the van to Shaw Park, where the employees had their shoes and cell phones stolen from them.

Police found the van nearby with a flat tire and empty of cash. The second suspect has yet to be arrested; Cobb County police are continuing to investigate the incident.