Summary: An attorney faces desperate financial times, robs a bank.
A week ago, Steven Cormier, 57, was a run-of-the-mill lawyer hailing from Pennsylvania. Now he’s been arrested for robbing a Wells Faro Bank.
Many are wondering why an attorney would commit such a stupid crime. But when Cormier went before a Schuylkill County judge earlier this week, his motive became clear: the downtrodden lawyer had been out of work nine months.
Fallen on hard times, Cormier had no income but was still responsible for supporting his disabled mother. After relying on unemployment benefits for months, the benefits were set to run out in approximately 30 days. Desperate and cornered, he hatched a plan.
Allegedly the attorney entered the bank branch around 10:45 a.m. and approached the tellers. He handed one of them a plastic bag and demanded she fill it. He also held a toy pistol under his sweatshirt, implying he had a gun.
Cormier got the money but didn’t get very far with it. Police apprehended his getaway car near the Fairlane Village Mall where the Wells Fargo was located. They found over $15,000 cash and the toy pistol on him.
The police dragged the lawyer back to the bank, where he was positively identified by three witnesses.
Dez Marshall of Pottsville says, “Hard times make people do hard things. I don’t use that as an excuse, but when times are tough and push comes to shove, you never know what a person is capable of doing.”
Cormier faces 12 counts of terroristic threats, two counts of robbery, and one count each of theft and receiving stolen property. All charges are felonies. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
Photo: wnep.com
