Convicted murderer faces charges for ‘05 robbery
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BY LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star
A man serving a life sentence for the 2005 fatal shooting of a Lincoln man now faces new charges in connection to a robbery a week before the killing.
Antonio Banks, 28, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to robbery, terroristic threats and two charges of use of a weapon to commit a felony.
Judge Karen Flowers appointed an attorney to represent him and set Banks’ next court date for Sept. 15.
His arraignment came a day before the statute of limitations would have run out to charge him for the crime.
Police Officer Katie Flood alleged on Aug. 21, 2005, Banks and Victor Young III, 25, (who pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2006 for his part in the crime) forced their way in a Lincoln man’s home near 33rd and Mohawk streets.
She said Banks held a gun on the 20-year-old and a 17-year-old who was at the home.
Banks struck the 20-year-old in the head twice with a handgun, cutting his nose and causing another cut above his right eye, Flood alleged.
Young told the man who lived there to give him his money and dope. So he opened his safe.
From it, Flood said, Banks took an SKS sporting rifle, a Benelli 12- gauge shotgun, a bolt-action rifle, about 600 .22-caliber cartridges and $1,150. The overall loss was estimated at $3,628.
Prosecutors last week filed the charges that accuse Banks of robbing the 20-year-old and threatening the 17-year-old.
Guards brought him Wednesday from the Nebraska State Penitentiary, where he is serving time for Robert Herndon’s murder.
The night of Aug. 29, 2005, he and Young forced their way into Herndon’s east Lincoln home intent, prosecutors said, on robbing Herndon, 20, of marijuana.
Banks got life for the murder, plus 20 to 30 years for a weapons charge after a Lancaster County jury found him guilty last year.
Banks also is serving 20 years in prison in a separate motor vehicle manslaughter case for a three-vehicle accident in 2005 that killed Kelli Martin, 19, his front-seat passenger.
Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.
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