Suspects in Urbana bank robbery plead not guilty

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Both co-defendants charged in connection with a local bank robbery pleaded not guilty to multiple charges Monday.

During continued video arraignment hearings, Ryan H. Seibert and Michaela M. Anderson pleaded not guilty to charges connected to a March 5 robbery at Security National Bank, 828 Scioto St.

On that date, bank employees were allegedly approached by Seibert wearing a stocking over his face who demanded they turn over a bag they were carrying near the outside ATM. While no weapon was shown, the robber indicated to the employees that he was armed.

An employee threw the bag to the ground and Seibert picked it up and ran. Seibert retrieved the money bag, which contained $10,000 in $20 bills, and fled on foot to the 700 block of East Court Street where he got into a vehicle that was owned and operated by Anderson, his girlfriend.

The co-defendants were taken into custody on Sept. 23. Prior to the arrests, Urbana police investigators spent hundreds of hours investigating the case including Urbana officers going to Florida twice to follow leads.

Seibert, 22, of 1717 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield, pleaded not guilty to two fifth-degree felony theft charges and one count each of robbery, grand theft, receiving stolen property and a first-degree felony aggravated robbery charge.

A court statement filed in the Champaign County Municipal Court states Seibert was a former teller at the bank who was fired for stealing funds from the bank. In March 2014, bank officials learned through audits and interviews that Seibert stole $3,208.84 while working there and deposited some of the stolen money into his own account.

A scheduling conference for Seibert is scheduled for Friday.

Anderson, 19, of 5626 W. U.S. Route 36, Urbana, pleaded not guilty to a first-degree felony aggravated robbery charge and felony robbery, grand theft, receiving stolen property and possessing criminal tools charges. The possessing criminal tools charge holds a specification for forfeiture of property related to the vehicle used to flee the scene of the crime.

A scheduling conference for Anderson is scheduled for Oct. 16.

Bond for both co-defendants was established at $300,000 on Friday.

During both hearings Monday, the co-defendants’ respective attorneys asked for bond to be lowered or modified. Champaign County Prosecutor Kevin Talebi asked for bond to remain at $300,000 citing the co-defendants’ fleeing to Florida and efforts they took to conceal their identity including lying to an employer about where they were from.

The court kept both co-defendants’ bond at $300,000.

Seibert
https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2015/10/web1_Seibert1.jpgSeibert

Anderson
https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2015/10/web1_Anderson1.jpgAnderson

By Nick Walton

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Nick Walton can be reached at 937-652-1331 Ext. 1777 or on Twitter @UDCWalton.

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