Murderer sentenced to prison for Hardee’s kidnapping and robbery

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man who was on parole for murder when he robbed a fast food restaurant is going back to prison for up to 20 years.

According to the district attorney’s office, David Ashley Bates pleaded guilty to two counts of common law robbery and two counts of second degree kidnapping in Brunswick County court on Friday.

In September, Bates approached two women in the Sunset Beach Hardees parking lot armed with what appeared to the a handgun. Bates ordered the women, who were Hardee’s employees, into the restaurant to open the safe, then demanded they put $1400 in a black bag.

After forcing the women into the walk-in freezer of the restaurant, Bates took off the with the bag and cash.

The NC State Crime Lab examined DNA from a glove left at the scene and identified Bates as the suspect.

At the time of the offense, Bates was on Federal Parole for a 1998 murder from the District of Columbia.

“This was a terrifying experience for the victims to endure,” Assistant District Attorney Alex Nicely stated in the news release. “Fortunately, due to the hard work of the Sunset Beach Police Department and the State Crime Laboratory, we were able to provide justice for the victims of Mr. Bates’ crimes.”

The judge sentenced Bates to between 13 and 20 years in prison.