CONWAY — An Ohio man accused of robbing a Centennial Bank branch on East Oak Street was charged Friday with aggravated robbery and other felony offenses.
Eric Kennedy, 34, of Hillsboro, Ohio, also was charged with one count of theft of property and one count of theft by receiving.
Kennedy could face up to life in prison if convicted of the charges, Prosecuting Attorney Marcus Vaden said.
Conway police arrested Kennedy on Wednesday in the robbery, which occurred about 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Police spokesman Chris Harris has said authorities had not recovered any of the money. He declined to say how much was taken.
This was the first bank robbery in Conway since 2008, Harris said.
Judge Charles E. Clawson Jr., ruling in Faulkner County Circuit Court on Friday, set Kennedy’s bail at $500,000. Vaden’s office had requested $1 million.
Kennedy already had a felony theft-of-property charge pending before this case, Vaden said.
Harris said a man had walked into the bank, which is near East German Lane, and handed a teller a note demanding money. The note said the man was armed, but he never showed a weapon, Harris said.
“After surveillance photos were released of Kennedy, several officers from the Conway Police Department recognized him from past dealings over the last month at one of the local hotels,” Harris said in a news release.
“Detectives searched the local hotels and were able to locate Kennedy” within 48 hours of the robbery, the release said.
Arkansas, Pages 12 on 06/26/2010