CLARKSBURG, W. Va. — A Harrison County man arrested after robbing two banks over the summer has entered into a plea deal regarding the first crime.
As part of the deal, William Arney Amos, 35, of Shinnston, pleaded guilty Monday afternoon in Harrison County Circuit Court to a felony count of robbery in exchange for having one count of making threats of terrorist acts, conveying false information concerning terrorist acts and committing terrorist hoaxes dropped by the state.
Amos admitted to the court he robbed Huntington Bank’s White Oaks branch on July 7 and took off with $4,691 he will now have to pay back in restitution.
He told Judge Thomas Bedell that leading up to the crime, he was having a “hard time differentiating reality and fiction” before he “just snapped and said ‘Screw it,'” before putting on gloves, a toboggan and bringing in a gun he had in his car.
“I reached a breaking point in my life,” Amos said.
When Judge Bedell asked if he had any previous history with mental illness, Amos stated he was treated for manic depression 10 years ago but was off that treatment for four years prior to his arrest. He has since been put back on antidepressants and other medication.
When similar circumstances were presented to the court in Marion County where Amos is accused of robbing the Marion Square branch of WesBanco in Fairmont later the same month, he was deemed competent to stand trail.
The plea agreement was presented by the state, represented Monday by Attorney Rachel Romano, after consulting with the victims at Huntington Bank who, through a liaison, notified them the terms of the deal were agreeable.
Judge Bedell scheduled Amos’ sentencing for March 12, he could face between 10 and 25 years in prison.
Amos is also set to appear in Marion County Court to enter into a similar agreement on February 2 in regard to the WesBanco robbery.