Judge Sentences Men to Life

Three men will be behind bars for a long time for their involvement in a January home invasion that victimized an elderly couple.

According to and , Roger Dale James, who was 54 in January, and Douglas Mitchell James, 46 at the time of his arrest, were given life plus life sentences yesterday in Superior Court.

The two and a third man—Ryan Jason Willits, who was 34 in January—had pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident that involved robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault and burglary.

Willits was sentenced to 50 years, 25 of which he must serve in prison, according to published reports.

Three other people were arrested on theft by receiving stolen property charges in connection with the incident.

Cartersville Patch originally reported one of the victims, a 70-year-old man , who claimed they had a broken-down vehicle.

The two then threatened and tied up the man and his wife with electrical cords and made off with items including a wedding ring valued at $26,000, a .45-caliber handgun and a white GMC Sierra.

The male victim told police the two men loaded up his safe and drove off in his truck.

reports a snow storm helped law enforcement track the men's whereabouts.