A 27-year-old D.C. man who prosecutors said preyed on the Hispanic community in Prince George’s County was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Eric M. Barnes robbed Hispanic people because he believed they were too afraid of authorities to testify against him. He was wrong, said Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, and members of the Hispanic community helped put Barnes behind bars for a long time.
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“We cannot enable violent criminals in their pursuits by standing idly by while they prey on people unfamiliar with our criminal justice
system,” Ivey said in a statement. “Victims — regardless of documentation or status — and witnesses must come forward so we can fully prosecute violent criminals like Mr. Barnes.”
Barnes was found guilty of 11 counts, including two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, first-degree assault, theft, and use of a handgun in a crime of violence.
In one case, on Aug. 7, 2009, Barnes approached two Hyattsville men and demanded their money at gunpoint. One of the men gave Barnes $50. Barnes then patted down both victims to make sure they hadn’t hidden any money away, then got into a vehicle and left. Both victims were unhurt.
A week later, Barnes watched one Hispanic worker cash his paycheck. Barnes followed the worker to his neighborhood in Hyattsville and then robbed him and another man of more than $400 and other personal property, including credit cards, a cell phone and identification.
At his sentencing, prosecutors played a recording of Barnes’ jailhouse conversation in which he indicated that he wanted to bribe the victims into signing letters saying they had identified the wrong person. He also expressed frustration that he was facing a lengthy sentence over “just $50.” Barnes also suggested that the victims most likely would not appear in court because they were probably illegal and would not want to miss work to attend trial.
