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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Newport Man Pleads Guilty To Holding Up Three Banks

Bill Morlin Staff Writer

A man who staged three Spokane bank robberies within a two-week period in 1993 pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal robbery charges.

Arthur W. Schultz, 47, of Newport, Wash., got a total of $9,450 from the three robberies, and fled to California where he later was arrested.

It is believed that Schultz robbed the banks to support his heroin addiction, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Harrington told Judge Frem Nielsen.

Schultz admitted robbing Seattle First-National Bank, N7514 Division, of $2,250 on Dec. 15, 1993.

On Dec. 23, 1993, he robbed a Washington Mutual branch at N5508 Division of $1,700.

Six days later, Schultz robbed a Farmers & Merchants branch at N6622 Division of $5,500.

Harrington said a handgun was displayed in the last two robberies.

After the last robbery, bank surveillance camera photographs of the suspect were provided to the news media.

At least two people identified Schultz as the robbery suspect, Harrington said.

In January 1994, Schultz was arrested in Lodi, Calif., after he attempted to sell cocaine to two undercover police officers so he could buy heroin.

Police seized a gun from Schultz that was identical to a weapon used in two of the Spokane robberies, Harrington said.

Schultz was sentenced to three years in prison for the California drug charge and must complete that state term before serving his federal robbery sentence.

Schultz has a 1991 conviction for burglary in Pend Oreille County. Because of that, he faces 87 to 108 months in prison when he is sentenced on June 1.