Guilty plea entered in bank robbery case

Paul Stacy Denton, 33, of Memphis, Tenn., pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Cape Girardeau to charges of bank robbery and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. On June 19, 2003, Denton and Dariess Harris entered the First State Community Bank of Hayti, Mo., and at gunpoint demanded money. The pair took $5,813 from the bank. Police immediately gave chase and pursued the two into Tennessee, where they eventually surrendered to authorities in Dyer County. The money was recovered. Denton faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the robbery, and a consecutive term of not less than seven years for possessing and brandishing the firearm. He will be sentenced July 27.

Participating in the investigation were the Hayti Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.