Washington woman sentenced to probation for Pocatello bank robbery
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POCATELLO — A federal judge has placed a Washington woman on probation for robbing a Pocatello bank in January 2020.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Patrina Morris, 39, to five years of probation on March 17. Morris pleaded guilty last year to felony bank robbery for taking approximately $4,621 in cash from a US Bank teller.
Police reports show on Jan. 9, 2020, a woman wearing a jacket, sunglasses, heavy make-up and short blond hair walked into the bank on Yellowstone Avenue and stood in line. Once at the front of the line, the woman, later identified as 37-year-old Patrina Morris, slid a note to the teller.
“This is a robbery,” was written at the top of the paper and the teller told investigators he began handing cash to the woman. The alleged robber only said, “Hurry up,” according to investigatory reports.
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Morris quickly left while employees called 911 and multiple law enforcement officers arrived at the bank.
Surveillance footage obtained by police from McDonald’s across the street showed a woman and a man get out of a blue Hyundai Accent shortly before the robbery. The man then stole a 1984 Red Toyota pickup before both vehicles left.
Eventually, a restaurant employee called 911 saying they spotted the blue car. When officers arrived, they found Aaron Hernandez, 25, and a woman at a restaurant. When speaking with police, the woman said she overheard Hernandez say his girlfriend “Trina,” referring to Morris, and a man named “Trouble” were involved in the robbery.
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During their investigation, police identified “Trouble” as Jonathon Brewer, 26, whom authorities already had in custody from an unrelated incident. The night of the robbery, Brewer led Pocatello Police on a high-speed chase where he threw a sawed-off shotgun from the vehicle, according to a news release.
During the investigation of the robbery, police also found a 9mm handgun which Hernandez claimed was his.
Hernandez pleaded guilty to just one of the charges he faced – possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Hernandez had been convicted of felonies in California and is not allowed to have a gun. He received a nine-year federal prison sentence in October.
Morris was ordered to pay $4,621 in restitution to the bank along with the co-defendants. She will also have to pay a $500 fine.
Brewer pleaded guilty to felony bank robbery. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 16.