Monday, January 7, 2013

A Wichita man has been sentenced for helping his brother rob a bank last year.

Back in October, 24-year-old Justin W. Cooper pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting bank robbery committed by his brother, Lessie Cooper.

This morning, Cooper was sentenced to 92 months, or just over 7 years.

According to his earlier plea, on March 16 of last year Cooper drove his brother to Commerce Bank, located at 1701 S. Broadway in Wichita. Lessie entered the bank, jumped the counter and pointed a rifle at tellers.

When Lessie was getting back in the car, dye packs exploded, catching the attention of a nearby Wichita police officer.

The officer pursued the car to the intersection of Clark and Silver, where Justin immediately surrendered. Lessie was captured a short time later hiding under a bed in a home in the 2100 block of South Silver.

His brother, Lessie, has already been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for the robbery.