Court sentences armed robbery convict

A Stonefort man was sentenced to 29 years in prison.

Jeffrey Scott Townsend, 43, was sentenced Wednesday in Saline County Circuit Court by Judge Walden E. Morris.

In December, Townsend entered the Carrier Mills branch of the Bank of Marion, now known as First Southern Bank, and produced a note demanding money from the tellers. Townsend then showed tellers a loaded gun and plastic bags within which the tellers put $7,877. Townsend then left the bank with the money.

The Saline County Sheriff's Department and the FBI led the investigation of Townsend with the assistance of the Illinois State Police, the Carrier Mills Police Department and Illinois Secretary of State police.

Townsend was also ordered to pay back the $7,877 in restitution to First Southern Bank of Carrier Mills and costs. Townsend was found guilty by a Saline County jury of armed robbery on Sept. 24. Armed robbery is a Class X felony punishable by a term of 6 to 30 years with the Illinois Department of Corrections and a $25,000 fine.

Due to the fact that Townsend was armed with a firearm during the commission of the robbery, he must be sentenced to an additional 15 years.