A man robbed a TD Bank location in Titusville, Florida at about 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2012. Wearing a wig and sunglasses, he reportedly went up to a teller and passed a note that said "give me the money." He also gave the teller a bag, who filled it with $1,200 and a GPS tracking device. Witnesses reported that they did not see a weapon, and no one was injured. The man fled the scene, police said, in a custom-wheeled gold or silver SUV. Law enforcement enlisted the assistance of the public in identifying the robber. The subsequent course of events has been unusual.
Police arrested Johnny Lee Bell, a 43 year-old Orlando resident, on February 8 on warrants for grand theft and robbery. A search of his home reportedly turned up what police believe was his disguise worn during the robbery, as well as the getaway vehicle.
While holding Bell on $150,000 bond, Titusville police identified Bell's wife, Sharon Reynolds-Bell, as the likely accomplice who drove the SUV in which he left the bank. Reynolds-Bell works as a school bus dispatcher for the Orange County School District in Titusville. Police requested further assistance from the public on February 11, specifically identifying Reynolds-Bell as a suspect and asking anyone with information about the case to come forward. They arrested Reynolds-Bell for robbery but have not filed formal charges against her yet.
According to Orlando's WFTV news, "court records" show that Reynolds-Bell dropped Bell off at the bank, and that she waited for him while he robbed the bank and drove away with him when he came back out. WFTV also cites "court records" that say Reynolds-Bell admitted to participating in the robbery, although it is not clear when or to whom she made this admission.
Although Reynolds-Bell does not face a formal criminal charge in the robbery, she has entered a plea of not guilty. Her attorney maintains that she was not involved in any robbery and that police and prosecutors have been "overzealous" with the case.
Even if Reynolds-Bell did not directly participate in a robbery, such as by entering the bank and demanding money, she could face a criminal charge as an accessory if prosecutors can prove that she helped the actual robber, such as by driving the getaway vehicle. Although this case is in Florida, California's criminal laws are similar. California's criminal statutes identify two types of parties to a crime: principals and accessories. An accessory is defined as someone who gives aid to someone after they have committed a felony, intending to help that person avoid arrest, trial, or punishment. She could also be charged as a principal, if prosecutors argue that she directly aided and abetted the robber by driving the car. The question would have to be whether the commission of the felony was "over" by the time the robber got to the car.
A person charged with an alleged crime has constitutional rights that police and prosecutors must respect. To speak to an Orange County criminal defense attorney experienced at protecting the rights of criminal defendants, contact Barney Gibbs through his website or at (714) 838-9019 for a free and confidential consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Family Convicted of Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Gets Over 400 Years in Prison, Orange County Criminal Attorney Blog, February 1, 2012
Two Orange County Investment Advisers Plead Guilty to Multiple Theft, Fraud Charges, Orange County Criminal Attorney Blog, November 16, 2011
Four Mentally Disabled People Kidnapped and Held Captive in Philadelphia, Orange County Criminal Attorney Blog, October 17, 2011
Photo credit: 'School Bus' by Lars Sundstrom on stock.xchng.
