70-Year-Old Bank Robber Sentenced To 15 Years Probation

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The 70-year-old woman who robbed a bank in LeSueur County in December was sentenced to 15 years of probation Tuesday.

Sandra Leanne Bathke was also sentenced to 35 days in jail, which she has already received credit for serving, and she will also be required to perform 200 hours of community service.

The robbery happened on Dec. 15, 2010 at the Elysian State Bank. Police said Bathke duped her landlord's son into giving her a ride to bank. He thought he was doing a good deed, but ended up being her unsuspecting getaway driver.

According to court records, Bathke entered the bank around noon, told the teller she had a gun and demanded money. She took off with $3,700.

Once she was arrested, she told police that she needed the money to pay rent or she was going to be evicted. Police later determined that she didn't have a gun, only a small hammer in a bag.

As part of her punishment, Bathke will also need to write a letter of apology and stay away from the bank for the rest of her life.