A Gaston County Superior Court judge resentenced 64-year-old Lester Barnett to 7-20 years for 1981 crimes including attempted armed robbery, safecracking, misdemeanor larceny, and felony assault. Originally, he received 7 years to life after pleading guilty at age 19.
Resentencing Reason
Judge David Phillips vacated the prior sentence following a North Carolina Court of Appeals order, considering Barnett’s youth (18 at arrest). This adjusts only the Gaston offenses; he remains imprisoned on a separate Mecklenburg County life sentence for a 1980 first-degree murder conviction.
Current Status
Attorney Rocky Lutz clarified the new term doesn’t lead to release—Barnett stays incarcerated until the Mecklenburg life sentence is potentially modified. He’s been in the NC prison system since 1980.
