“Woman who robbed two banks on same day gets year in jail”

Woman who robbed two banks on same day gets year in jail

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 01:38 PM PDT

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A young woman who donned a floppy hat and sunglasses while holding up two San Diego-area banks and trying to rob a third during a 90-minute crime spree was sentenced Friday to a year in jail and five years probation.

Victoria Rose Wilkerson, 20, pleaded guilty last month to a pair of robbery counts and one count of attempted robbery.

Defense attorney Brooke LaFrance told Judge Jeffrey Fraser that a man took advantage of Wilkerson and forced her to hold up the banks.

But Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey -- arguing for a state prison term -- said Wilkerson presented a demand note during each robbery, saying she had a gun.

Since all the notes were left at the banks, Wilkerson had to rewrite each one before the next robbery, the prosecutor said.

Fraser said he decided to grant probation because the case was unusual and it was Wilkerson's first offense.

"You get one shot. This is it," the judge said, noting that Wilkerson will be sent to prison if she violates probation over the next five years.

As a condition of probation, Wilkerson is barred from wearing sunglasses or hats into a bank and also cannot bring in a cell phone.

Fraser said he didn't necessarily buy the story that Wilkerson was put up to the bank holdups.

"In my opinion, you are a bank robber," the judge said.

Fraser said he felt sorry for the bank tellers who will forever be haunted by being robbed by Wilkerson.

The judge ordered Wilkerson to pay restitution of $6,352 to Wells Fargo and $1,000 to Mission Federal Credit Union.

Wilkerson robbed those banks in Rancho San Diego last May 10, and tried to rob a Chase Bank off College Grove that same morning.

Bank teller Matthew Lopez testified during a preliminary hearing in July that a woman wearing black sunglasses, a white sun hat and high heels -- and on a cell phone -- passed him a demand note in bright red writing.

The note said, `I have a gun! I need $20s, $50s and $100s. No dyepack. I need $10,000. Move immediately,"' Lopez testified.

The teller said the young woman didn't speak.

As he was preparing to give her some money, the robber's cell phone rang and she looked out a window, prompting Lopez to hit the bank's alarm.

Lopez testified that the robber -- who had clear medical tape on the tips of her fingers -- stormed out of the bank, tripping over something as she walked away.

A Mission Federal teller testified that about mid-morning that day, a woman in a white hat and sunglasses gave him a demand note. He said he put $1,000 in $100 bills on the counter, and she scooped up the cash, put it in her shirt and left.

Wilkerson's fingerprint was lifted from the Chase bank demand note she left behind, and she was arrested June 9 at a home in the 4000 block of Vandever Avenue in Grantville.

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