FERNDALE, Wash. — The trial of accused bank theft suspect Donna Brown, age 58, is scheduled to begin this week according to Whatcom County Superior Court documents.
Brown is being charged with 1st degree theft by taking money from the Ferndale Key Bank branch on Main Street where she worked as a teller to a location over a mile away on Hovander Road on December 10, 2015. Brown told investigators a male had spoken to her by phone and instructed her to take the cash to that location. The male said he had a gun pointed at the branch manager, according to Brown. Ferndale Police later said they were confident there was no gunman or other person posing a threat.
Brown later surrendered voluntarily to Ferndale Police at the Whatcom County Jail December 18th and charged with suspicion of 1st degree theft, a class B felony. The state asked for a $10,000 appearance bond but the court released Brown on her own personal recognizance without bond and ordered her not to leave the state at any time or leave the county overnight until after her trial. She was also required not to have contact with any Key Bank employees.
If found guilty, Brown will face the possibility of a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $20,000.