Two High Ridge men have been charged for allegedly robbing the Regions Bank, 999 Bowles Ave., in Fenton last month, authorities report.
John D. Morris, 49, and Kenneth Bentrup, 48, reportedly went into the bank at 2:32 p.m. May 14 and stole $1,480, according to court documents.
Morris also has been charged for allegedly robbing two banks in St. Louis – the First Bank in February and Lindell Bank in May.
In addition, Morris was charged for allegedly trying to rob First Bank again the same day he robbed Lindell Bank.
Morris allegedly entered First Bank, 7256 Gravois Road, at 10:54 a.m. Feb. 8, dressed in a wig, baseball hat and a jacket in an attempt to conceal his identity, handed a note to the teller demanding money and left with $3,857, according to the probable-cause statement.
At 11:11 a.m. May 4, he allegedly went in the Lindell Bank, 3921 Hampton, again wearing a wig and hat, handed the teller a note demanding money and got away with $1,490, the statement said.
Earlier on May 4, at 10:50 a.m., Morris allegedly went in the same First Bank and gave the teller and note demanding money, but the teller refused, so he left, the report said.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police arrested Morris in connection with the two robberies and attempted robbery in St. Louis and then contacted St. Louis County Police, who interviewed both Morris and Bentrup about the robbery at Regions Bank, St. Louis County Police reported.
“Both Morris and Bentrup admitted to their involvement in the (Regions Bank) robbery,” the report said.
In the Regions Bank case, the two have been charged with robbery in the second degree, a class B felony, which is punishable by five to 15 years in prison, the St. Louis County Circuit Court reported.
Morris also has been charged with two counts of stealing between $500 and $25,000, a class C felony, and one count of attempted stealing of between $500 and $25,000, a class D felony, in connection with the robberies and attempted robbery of the St. Louis banks, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office reported.
He faces a maximum penalty of seven years for each of the two class C felonies, and four years for the class D felony.
No charges had been filed against Bentrup in the St. Louis bank robberies or attempted robbery as of Tuesday (June 5).
-- Kim Robertson
