A woman suspected of robbing a Vancouver Umpqua Bank branch in October appeared Thursday in Clark County Superior Court and pleaded not guilty to first-degree robbery.
Kaelesha Bennett, 20, was arrested Wednesday evening on a warrant by the U.S. Marshal’s Service, according to the prosecution.
A co-defendant, Justin D. Taylor, 28, of Vancouver appeared Wednesday morning in Superior Court on the same charge. He also entered a not-guilty plea.
Taylor is accused of putting Bennett up to the robbery and driving her to the bank. Employees also reported seeing him inside the bank during the robbery and said they thought he may have been a “diversion,” court records state. The prosecution said a second man believed to be involved has not yet been identified.
A woman, identified by police as Bennett, entered the Umpqua Bank at 11515 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., shortly before 11 a.m. Oct. 21 and presented a note to the teller, which read, “Give me the money, don’t try anything, be (quick) and hurry, no sudden (movements),” according to a probable cause affidavit.
The bank teller said she stared at the woman and told her, “I can’t move.” Bennett reportedly replied, “Yes you can,” the affidavit states. The teller noticed Bennett had her hand inside her purse, she said, and then told her, “Don’t make me do something I don’t want to do.” She gave Bennett $473, court records said.
Vancouver police responded to the bank and obtained video surveillance of Bennett, as well as the note she left behind, according to court documents.
Police received multiple anonymous tips that Bennett was the robber. One tipster said two males put her up to the robbery and drove her to the bank, the affidavit states.
Investigators were later contacted by police in Beaverton, Ore., who are investigating Bennett on an unrelated matter. Photos and surveillance footage shared between the agencies confirmed the robber was Bennett, court records said.
During her hearing, Judge David Gregerson appointed Bennett an attorney and set her bail at $40,000.
Her and Taylor’s trial is set to begin Feb. 6.
