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The Barbie Bandits saga winds down

Published on: 03/24/08

The Barbie Bandits' brief time in the limelight nears its end this week with the sentencing of Heather Lyn Johnston, 20, and Ashley Nicole Miller, 19, scheduled for Monday in Cobb Superior Court.

Here's a rundown of the joy and frenzy they caused after they walked into a Bank of America branch at an Acworth Kroger on Feb. 27, 2007.

Allen
 
Chastang
 
Heather Lyn Johnston and Ashley Nicole Miller at Carter-Barnes Hair Artisans. The photo is from video surveillance provided by the salon.
 
Johnston
 
Miller
 
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THE CHARGES AND POSSIBLE SENTENCES

Heather Lyn Johnston pleaded guilty to theft by taking and misdemeanor marijuana possession. Johnston faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Ashley Nicole Miller pleaded guilty to theft by taking and possession of Ecstasy with intent to distribute. Miller faces a maximum of 41 years.

Benny Herman Allen III, 23, pleaded guilty to theft by taking. Allen faces a maximum of 16 years.

Michael Darrell Chastang was convicted of theft by taking. His sentencing has been delayed.

THE DEMAND NOTE

Johnston and Miller called Allen several times for directions to the bank and instructions for what to write on the demand note. Allen dictated the demand note to them. They wrote as they drove to the bank. Johnston wrote a draft. But Miller ended up writing the one they gave to Allen. She covered her fingers in plastic as she wrote.

The note demanded "all loose bills. No strapped cash. Remember I will not hesitate to kill you. Keep hands where I can see them. Do not pull switch."

SHOPPING

Although Chastang, 28, told Johnston and Miller to lie low after the bank job, the girls went shopping.

They stopped at Lenox Square mall and Phipps Plaza, where they picked up shorts, boots, a two-piece swimsuit, purses and makeup from Steve Madden, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Bloomingdale's, Juicy Couture and Lucky Brand Jeans.

They got their hair done at Carter-Barnes Hair Artisans.

It wasn't not all upscale — the girls stopped at a local Wal-Mart to pick up a 32-inch, flat-screen Sanyo television for about $1,000.

Police also found seven DVDs, a DVD player, an AM/FM radio/CD player and a Valentine's Day card at their Atlanta apartment.

QUOTES

"Well, actually, we're pretty dumb to tell you the truth," — Heather Lyn Johnston to Cobb County police detectives Brad McEntyre and R.B. Smith during a one-hour interrogation after her arrest.

Taking money from a bank was "a bad idea. ... [It was the] worst decision I ever made," —Ashley Nicole Miller, testifying during the trial of co-defendant Michael Darrell Chastang.

The women "were down to get paid," that is, they "would do whatever for money." — Benny Herman Allen III, during his guilty plea on Feb. 1, 2008, on bank theft charges.

"I'm proud of you, baby." — Michael Darrell Chastang, in a text message to Miller after the bank job.

Compiled by Yolanda Rodríguez from court documents and testimony.

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