A Wallins Creek man was sentenced to 20 years in prison as a persistent felon in Bell Circuit Court recently.

William Kenneth Mann was sentenced on charges of robbery in the first degree by using or threatening the use of physical force upon Patrick Howard, while armed with a pistol and in the course of committing a theft at the Vendor’s Mall. At the same time he committed the offense of fleeing or evading police in the first degree by knowingly disobeying officers signals to stop his vehicle in an attempt of elude the police.

Mann was also charged with criminal mischief in the third degree by destroying property of Patrick Howard by striking his truck with the vehicle he was operating. He was also charged and plead guilty to reckless driving while operating the vehicle then under his control.

He was also charged with committing several offenses of wanton endangerment in the first degree when he engaged in conduct which created substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to Trooper Tyson Lawson, Deputy Max Graves and Patrick Howard during the reckless operation of his vehicle.

Mann also committed the offense of resisting arrest when he threatened to use physical force against Lawson, who had placed him under arrest. Other offenses he was charged with include improper registration plates, expired state registration receipt, failure to register transfer of the motor vehicle, and failure of to maintain required insurance.

The court found Mann guilty of the charges of robbery in the second degree, fleeing or evading police in the first degree, wanton endangerment in the first degree, resisting arrest and persistent felony offender in the second degree.

Also, in May of 2010, Mann plead guilty to receiving stolen property (over $500) by receiving, retaining or disposing of an Echo Chainsaw and Echo Weedeater valued at more than $500, which had been stolen from KSP Sgt. Jeremy Lee. The items were recovered at the home of Robert Rice.

Mann also was charged with receiving stolen property by disposing of a television valued at approximately $2,000, which had been stolen from Betsy Mann, and selling it to George Johnson, knowing that it had been stolen.

Chase Smith works for the Middlesboro Daily News. She can be contacted at ksmith@heartlandpublications.com.