Man arrested on his way to sentencing gets 15 years for bank robbery

A Clarence man found out this week that driving to his sentencing may not have been a good idea in light of the fact that his license was suspended, he was arrested and missed his hearing.

Ledale Lanehart, 24, didn't avoid his sentencing too long. The hearing was reset and he was sentenced to 15 years Wednesday in Linn County District Court for his part in the Guaranty bank robbery last September. Lanehart was originally charged with second-degree robbery and in March he pleaded guilty to lesser charges of first-degree theft and extortion.

Lanehart admitted during the sentencing he was on the way to the courthouse Monday when police stopped him.

Lanehart also had his probation revoked from a previous 2011 theft case because of the robbery conviction, so he was also sentenced Wednesday to five years on that charge and the judge ran it concurrent to the 15 years.

According to the criminal complaints, two co-defendants, Daniel Straw, 23, and Kevin Conner,18, admitted to helping Lanehart, who was “casing” locations for a robbery. They initially considered U.S. Bank on Mt. Vernon Road SE, but decided the conditions “were not right.” The three then drove to a secluded area and parked near Guaranty Bank, 191 Jacolyn Dr. SW. Connor and Straw told police they waited in the car while Lanehart went inside, presented a “hold up” note and robbed the bank.

Connor and Straw told police they moved the car to a better position while Lanehart was inside and then both ran from the scene, leaving the car when they saw police cars in the area, according to the complaints. The two men were captured by police after a foot chase.

Lanehart also left on foot and was arrested and charged later.

Connor and Straw both pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, according to court records. Straw received a suspended sentence of 10 years in prison and received five years probation and will be placed in a residential facility for one year. Connor received a deferred sentence and three years probation.

All three men were ordered to pay joint restitution of $3,000 to the bank. The joint restitution requires each man to pay $3,000 and if one doesn't pay the others are responsible.