Convicted robber gets 24 years in prison for string of crimes in 2016

A prolific robber, who committed most of his criminal damage in King County, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of crimes in the Spokane area in 2016 that originally included kidnapping charges.

Vance G. Bartley, 53, originally was charged three years ago with three kidnapping charges and two counts of robbery in connection to heists pulled off at two Sally’s Beauty locations in Spokane and Spokane Valley.

On Nov. 6, 2015, investigators believe Bartley robbed the store at 15735 E. Broadway Ave. In that case, the robber threatened to shoot an employee if she didn’t comply with his demands. He then tied her up with a phone cord, took her cellphone and told her he would return and kill her if she called police, according to a previous news release.

Prior to his arrest on the most recent crimes, Bartley had been convicted of six counts of robbery, all in King County. He also had felony drug and theft convictions from King County and a second-degree assault conviction from Pierce County.

On May 9, Bartley pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful imprisonment stemming from the Sally’s Beauty cases and he also pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree burglary.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Raymond Clary on May 15 sentenced Bartley to the statutory maximum 288 months, or 24 years, in prison.