Bootheel man pleads guilty to robbing bank twice

ST. LOUIS -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to robbing a Gray Summit bank twice in November 2003. Donald Ray Evans, 46, of the 900 block of Eve Street, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of robbery of a federally insured institution before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel. Sentencing was set for June 25. At that time, Evans faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000 on each count. According to documents filed with the court, on Nov. 18 and Nov. 24, 2003, Evans robbed the Bank of Washington in Gray Summit.

In both cases, Evans reportedly intimidated bank employees suggesting to them that he was armed with a bomb and that there was a bomb outside of the bank.

After the Nov. 24 robbery, Evans reportedly left the bank and got into an awaiting van. He was later apprehended on a local interstate as he was attempting to flee.

Deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department recovered $14,625 from the Nov. 24 robbery. None of the $2,500 was recovered from the earlier robbery.

With his plea, Evans reportedly admitted to both bank robberies and to making the bomb threats in the process of the bank robberies.

Also assisting in the investigation were agents of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reginald Harris handled the prosecution for the government.