70-Year-Old Accused Bank Robber Stays In Custody
LE CENTER, Minn. (AP) -- A 70-year-old woman accused of duping a man to be her getaway driver for a bank robbery has chosen to stay in jail.
Sandra Bathke is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery in the Elysian State Bank robbery Dec. 15.
The Free Press of Mankato reports she requested to stay in custody at a hearing Tuesday, rather than being released on her own recognizance because she had no place to live.
Sheriff Tom Doherty said Bathke told those who came forward, offering her a place to stay that she "won't ruin anyone else's Christmas."
She's accused of tricking the 26-year-old son of her landlord to take her to the bank because she was about to be evicted for failure to pay her rent. She allegedly made off with $3,700.
A judge last week told Bathke she shouldn't remain in the Janesville apartment, given the circumstances.
(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)