A Newman parolee who robbed a Bank of America will be making a return trip to state prison after pleading no contest in Merced County Superior Court on Wednesday.
Thomas Miller, 25, was convicted on three felony counts of robbery, auto theft and possession of stolen property. The incident happened around 9:40 a.m. Dec. 15 at the bank, located at 208 Fifth St. in Gustine. No one was hurt during the robbery.
Miller's jury trial began this week. Deputy District Attorney Alan Turner, prosecutor in the case, had already given an opening statement in the trial. Before testimony began, however, Miller entered an open plea to all charges. He's scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Brian McCabe on July 22 and faces a maximum sentence of six years, eight months in jail.
Asked why Miller waited until his trial to enter a plea, his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Michael Coughlin, said he didn't know.
Turner, on the other hand, said Miller probably had a change of heart after realizing the case against him was strong. "The reality of everybody being there and ready to go, I think it came home to him that we would get the result we expected," Turner said.
A surveillance camera inside the bank recorded the robbery, which took one minute, 10 seconds. Investigators said Miller entered the bank wearing a fake goatee, cap and hooded sweatshirt. With one hand tucked in his sweatshirt, Miller approached the assistant manager and held out a plastic grocery bag. "This is a robbery. Give me all the money and no bait," Miller ordered.
The robbery was especially harrowing for the bank's employees because the manager was pregnant and they feared for her safety. Witnesses didn't see Miller brandish a weapon during the robbery. Still, the bank's employees complied with his demands and he left with about $10,000 cash.
Police were notified, and a "be on the lookout" bulletin was issued for the stolen green 1994 Ford Escort that Miller was driving. A witness followed Miller and relayed his whereabouts to police.
A Newman police officer spotted the Escort. Miller stopped the car near a loading dock at Nob Hill Foods, located at 1945 N St. in Newman. He fled on foot, but the Newman police officer had recognized him. About 45 minutes later, officers tracked Miller to a nearby apartment complex. He tried to escape out the back door of a residence, but was surrounded by law enforcement officers and taken into custody, Turner said.
The stolen money was recovered in the car and returned to the bank.
Miller had been released from prison Dec. 6 -- just nine days before the bank robbery. He'd served time in prison for petty theft and possession of a concealed weapon.
He remains in custody at the Merced County Jail.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 395-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
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