BLOOMINGTON - A Bloomington man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for robbing a pair of banks with a BB pistol in 2004.

David Silas, 34, was convicted of robbing Bank One, 413 E. Washington St., and National City Bank, 1332 E. Empire St. during a trial in which he represented himself.

While Silas denied committing either robbery during his trial in April, he told Judge Ronald Dozier on Tuesday that his addiction to drugs led him to hold up the banks.

DNA found on clothing worn during each robbery was used to link Silas to the heists. Moreover, the bank manager from National City told jurors she was positive Silas was the man who robbed her bank.

In a 45-minute statement to the court, Silas asked Dozier for probation, detailing his plans to write novels and start a greeting card company once he's released.

Dozier, who noted Silas' intelligence and "grandiose personality," imposed concurrent 20-year prison terms for each bank robbery, Assistant State's Attorney Sandra Thompson said.

The judge said the crimes and Silas' criminal history, which includes convictions for residential burglary, drug charges and obstruction of justice, were too serious to justify a light sentence.

Silas was not eligible for probation. The judge could have sentenced him to between six and 30 years in prison for each robbery, though he could have imposed consecutive sentences.

Reginald Berry, 25, Silas' partner in the Bank One robbery, was sentenced to five years in prison and testified against him during the trial.

Thompson, who asked for consecutive 15-year sentences, or 30 years total, said the robberies had a traumatic effect on the employees who were robbed at gunpoint.

"I think the sentence was appropriate and it sends a message to others how serious robbery is," Thompson said. "It doesn't matter this happened in a bank. It would have the same effect if had been in a convenient store."