Tenn. man pleads guilty to May bank robbery

A Memphis, Tenn., man pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District court to one felony county of bank robbery.

Eric Mitchell, 31, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced Nov. 28.

Around 9 a.m. May 20, the Missouri State Highway Patrol notified the Cape Girardeau police they had received a tip that a man driving a gray Honda was going to rob a bank in the vicinity of Lexington Avenue.

While officers were checking to see if Commerce Bank on Lexington Avenue had been robbed, Mitchell, wearing dark clothing and a mask, jumped over the counter of the Bank of Missouri at 1622 N. Kingshighway, grabbed some money from the cash drawers and fled on foot. He did not display a weapon.

Cape Girardeau police apprehended Mitchell within minutes.

A bank audit later revealed that the robber got away with $14,728.

Mitchell had reportedly driven the Honda to Cape Girardeau from Memphis. He stole a maroon Oldsmobile, left the Honda and used the Oldsmobile to drive to the bank.

The person who tipped the patrol about Mitchell's plan to rob the bank was questioned and released.