Smyrna Armed Robber Gets 40 Years

MARIETTA, GA ­– Martinus Devontae Bennett, 24, of Smyrna, has been convicted of a 2015 armed robbery and sentenced to 40 years.

After a three-day trial, jurors convicted Bennett of armed robbery, home invasion, theft by taking, possession of Oxycodone and misdemeanor marijuana possession after a 2015 attack at the Red Roof Inn in Smyrna and a subsequent theft.

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The evidence showed that in the early morning hours of March 12, 2015, a man wearing a Georgia Bulldogs hoodie and armed with a handgun gained unauthorized access to a guest room at the hotel off Windy Hill Road. The man woke up the room’s occupant and demanded money, and the victim handed over his wallet and cell phone after pleading for his life.

Several hours later, a laptop bag was stolen from a patron at the Chick-Fil-A off of Windy Hill. The owner of the laptop bag was able to track the thief to a nearby gas station and called police. When Bennett, who was wearing a Georgia Bulldogs hoodie, was arrested for stealing the laptop bag, he was found to be in possession of credit cards taken from the Red Roof Inn victim. He was also identified using surveillance video from the hotel.

Monday afternoon, Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert D. Leonard II sentenced Bennett to 40 years, with 16 years to serve in prison without parole, followed by 24 years on probation.

Bennett was already on probation for a previous case of criminal damage to property in the second degree. Bennett is also on conditional discharge probation for a felony case in Coweta County.