Conroe– Ronnie Lee Payton, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to the felony offense of Aggravated Robbery in the 9th District Court. In exchange, Payton received a sentence of 40 years in prison.
On February 20, 2014, Payton and at least one accomplice grabbed a banker coming to work at the Wells Fargo off Research Forest and Kuykendahl near the Alden Bridge neighborhood in The Woodlands. Payton and his accomplice used pistols and threats to force the banker and another teller to open the main vault. Unable to get into the vault, Payton and his accomplice then forced the bank employees to empty a cash drawer containing over $12,000 in cash. While the two robbers were still in the bank, Deputies Carl Norum and Brian Aguilar responded. Deputy Norum held Payton at gunpoint temporarily, but decided not to fire. Payton was then able to force his way past the Deputies and ran north from the bank. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded quickly and were able to apprehend Payton within 10 minutes in a residential area of the Woodlands. Payton’s accomplice was arrested a few weeks later in Harris County.
Houston Police Gang Expert, Keven Bowen, was later able to identify Payton through his tattoos and affiliates as a member of the violent street gang, the “Bounty Hunter Bloods.”
Aggravated Robbery is a first-degree felony, carrying with it a punishment range of 5 years up to 99 years or Life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. However, because Payton had been convicted of a prior third degree felony and been to prison, his punishment range was enhanced to 15 years up to 99 years or Life in prison. Payton’s plea of 40 years means that he will have to spend at least 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice before parole is even an option. Payton is 30 years old.
Prosecutor Vincenzo Santini stated Payton is an example of the mindset of some of these criminals and their complete disregard for others and sense of entitlement, namely that that an armed robber can threaten to murder good, honest, hardworking citizens, hold a gun to their heads, attack our police officers, steal thousands of dollars, and still have the audacity to complain that that an officer pointed a gun at him. Mr. Santini further stated that this verdict sends a strong message to other Houston gang members planning on coming here to commit similar crimes.
From the Office of Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon
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