BILLBOARD PHOTO LEADS TO ROBBERY SUSPECT'S ARREST.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Deputies have arrested a home-invasion robbery suspect who was captured on a bank surveillance camera using a stolen ATM card and profiled on a billboard in downtown Lancaster.

Craig Spratley, 25, of Lancaster, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, was arrested Thursday in Los Angeles two days after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

``It was the combination of the newspaper articles and the billboard that led to his arrest,'' said Sgt. Darrel Brown. ``Being able to identify him was crucial to the case.''

Spratley was accused of being one of three armed men who entered an apartment in the 600 block of East Woodington Drive on Nov. 17, rounded up the occupants, and tied them up with duct tape. One of the women was sexually assaulted.

Sheriff's deputies believe Spratley obtained a victim's automated teller card and went to a nearby ATM machine, returning to the apartment a short time later with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The robbers then left the home in a black sports utility type vehicle taking some credit cards and a video camera.

According to Brown, the break in the case came March 21, when a woman who lives at the apartment complex told authorities she recognized the man shown in the bank camera photograph on the billboard at Newgrove Avenue and Sierra Highway.

``She realized that she knew who this guy was,'' said Brown. ``She said she recognized him from the apartment complex.''

The billboard reads: ``Wanted, $1,000 Reward for Information leading to the arrest and conviction of this suspect.'' Added to the billboard Tuesday were the words ``captured.''

Another Lancaster man, Curtis Daniels, was convicted Wednesday of robbery in the home-invasion case. He faces up to 85 years to life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced April 18. A third suspect is still at large, sheriff's officials said.