Authorities reported that a 26-year-old convicted felon is suspected of robbing an Akron bank after being caught shoplifting jeans and shirts from a mall department store. According to law enforcement, the man admitted to trying to steal the clothing and had been issued a misdemeanor theft summons for those charges.
About two hours after receiving the court summons in the department store case, police allege the man walked into the Fifth Third Bank on West Market Street around 4 p.m. According to reports, the man allegedly handed the teller a note directing her to not include dye packs and hand over money to him. He reportedly made off with $2,500.
Both the bank robbery and the mall theft allegedly occurred in the afternoon on Nov. 6. The accused man has multiple prior convictions and has previously spent three years in prison. His offenses include robberies, theft cases and writing bad checks. He recently pleaded guilty on Aug. 20 to felony case in which he allegedly stole from his church. He has not yet been located on his latest charge, and a warrant is outstanding for second-degree felony bank robbery.
When people are accused of committing crimes and are facing felony charges, it is often important for them to seek legal advice from a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. People who have criminal records potentially face aggravated sentencing if they are convicted. All felonies carry the possibility of serious consequences in the event of conviction, including the potential for incarceration in state or federal prison. By obtaining representation early on in a case, people can have more time for their attorney to mount an effective and vigorous defense to the charges. Defense attorneys are often able to negotiate pleas to lesser charges or to advocate at trial on their client’s behalf.
Source: Cleveland.com, “Felon accused of robbing Akron bank after trying to steal jeans and shirts from Chapel Hill Mall“, Adam Ferrise, November 07, 2014