YOU ARE HERE: Central Kentucky Home→Collections→Robbery

Accused bank robber's case referred to grand jury

June 22, 2006|KELLY McKINNEY

LANCASTER - A man suspected of robbing banks in Lancaster, Danville and Nicholasville heard testimony against him Wednesday in Garrard District Court.

Judge Bill Oliver ruled that the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing was sufficient to refer Ricky Pittman's case to a grand jury.

Pittman, 38, is being held in the Lincoln County Regional Jail, charged with the May 18 robbery of Whitaker Bank on the Lancaster Public Square.

He has not yet been charged with the robbery of Fort Knox Federal Credit Union in Danville Square or Farmers Bank in Peddlers Mall in Nicholasville. Officials are still investigating these robberies, Garrard County Attorney Jeff Moss said.

Kentucky State Police Detective Mark Young testified Wednesday that Pittman walked into Whitaker Bank and told the teller he had a gun and demanded money. He then escaped in his Ford Taurus.

Young said Benny Simpson, a friend of Pittman's, said Pittman paid him $150 that afternoon. Pittman's mother told the detective she saw him with a large amount of money and that he later told her he had robbed some banks.

Young added that letters found on Pittman at his arrest indicate he robbed banks.

KSP issued a warrant for Pittman May 28. Police searched his Lexington home but did not find him.

He remained at large until June 9, when police arrested him without incident near Elizabethtown after someone told police he was in the area.

Pittman appeared for the hearing without an attorney. He said his family had hired an attorney, but he hadn't heard from him.

The grand jury will meet July 19.

|

|

|