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By Talia Mollett
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley sentenced Michael Darrell Chastang to 10 years in prison Tuesday for his role in the "Barbie Bandits" bank heist. Authorities say he masterminded the February 2007 robbery.
Chastang, 28, is already serving 15 years on related drug trafficking charges, and Judge Staley ordered that he serve the sentences consecutively.
"I think I need to protect society from you for awhile. Your record shows me that you are a drug dealer, so I guess it makes sense that you were selling Ecstasy in the company of strippers," Judge Staley said. She was referring to Heather Lyn Johnston and Ashley Nicole Miller, the two women sentenced Monday in the case, who had worked at a strip club in Doraville.
"I don't even know if you should be allowed around your children," Judge Staley said. Chastang is the father of an 8-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl.
Chastang's sentence came after the judge dismissed contempt of court charges against his lawyer, Joseph Shaw of Atlanta, for failing to appear with his client in court last week. Shaw spoke to Judge Staley at the bench. He declined to comment on why he was absent, only saying "everything is fine now."
Chastang was given the maximum sentence for the state's charge of theft by taking. His mother attended the hearing and left the court in tears.
"There is absolutely no similarity between Ms. Miller, Ms. Johnston and Mr. Chastang. He's 10 years older and his record shows he has been engaged in a lifestyle of crime. I am worried about the witness intimidation. I saw Ms. Johnston and Ms. Miller and Mr. Allen. They were scared. ... And who intimidated them? That was you," Judge Staley said.
"He's been convicted on drug charges almost every two years. His record gives this court no latitude," the judge said.
Chastang was also sentenced to 15 years probation and ordered to participate in drug and alcohol counseling. He has 30 days to appeal the sentence.
Like his co-defendants, Chastang is forbidden from profiting from any recreation of the "Barbie Bandits" story by the media and must remain properly clothed in public. He was also ordered to pay his part in restitution to Bank of America for the $11,000 stolen from an Acworth branch in February 2007.
Johnston, Miller and Benny Herman Allen III were sentenced Monday for their part in the scheme that gained national media attention. Allen was ordered to prison for five years and will spend five more on probation.
Ms. Miller was sentenced to 10 years - serving two years in prison and eight years of probation. Ms. Johnston was given 10 years probation.
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