A man on trial this week for two bank robberies in Proctorville pleaded guilty today before the state could finish its case.

Gary A. Spangler, 35, of 605 County Road 70, Proctorville, admitted to robbing the U.S. Bank and Liberty Bank on County Road 107 in Proctorville at gun point on Sept. 8 and Sept. 14.

Lawrence County Prosecuting Attorney Brigham Anderson said the state had presented its case on Wednesday, Thursday and part of the morning Friday when the defendant decided to plead guilty. The state still had two witnesses left to testify.

“The evidence we presented was overwhelming to his guilt of the bank robberies,” Anderson said.

Spangler was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to all charges against him, which were two first-degree felony counts of aggravated robbery, having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony, and carrying concealed weapons, a felony of the fourth-degree.

Anderson said when Spangler was arrested, he was in possession of a loaded gun and admitted he had snorted half a gram of heroin while in possession of that gun, which led to the disability charge.

Anderson also said he was happy with the outcome of the case.

“He (Spangler) walks into the U.S. Bank and Liberty Bank in Proctorville … and puts a gun in the tellers’ face,” he said. “It makes everyone uneasy and it’s very dangerous. We felt all along that a substantial penalty was required.”