Sentencing for Armando Mason, the man convicted of robbing the American Falls branch of US Bank on June 16, 2008, took place on Thursday, May 14, at the Power County Courthouse.
Mason was sentenced on four charges stemming from the robbery. On the charge of armed robbery, Mason received a sentence of 15 years fixed, 20 years indeterminate. On the aggravated assault charge, he was sentenced to five years. The burglary charge earned five years fixed and five years indeterminate, and on the grand theft charge, Mason was sentenced to five years fixed and nine years indeterminate. The sentences will run concurrent, but consecutive to a Cassia County sentence of 15 years fixed and 15 years indeterminate. The Cassia County conviction stems from the robbery of a US Bank in Cassia County which was also committed by Mason.
Letters had been sent out to interested parties listing Mason’s sentencing time as 10:30; however, due to security issues that came to the sheriff’s attention, sentencing was switched to 9:30 with no advance notice.
There were some people who were upset, among them Greg and Sheila Hahn of Pocatello who had taken time off from work to attend the sentencing. The Hahns had been in US Bank at the time of the robbery and were wanting closure on the incident. Judge McDermott will be meeting with the Hahns.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience of other people, but safety has to be our biggest concern,” said Sheriff Jim Jeffries.
Mason’s transport went as planned. He was delivered to the Idaho Department of Corrections and nobody was hurt, according to Jeffries.