Friday, July 21, 2000
Serial bank robberies alleged
By Jane Prendergast
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Schwarberg
|
LEXINGTON — The Verona man suspected of being the “Average Joe” serial bank robber was charged Thursday with three more robberies — moments after his parents bailed him out of jail.
Daniel Schwarberg, a former Comair supervisor, was immediately put back behind bars. He is now accused of four Lexington robberies dating to April 1999.
The three state charges were added after his lawyer convinced a federal magistrate that Mr. Schwarberg should be allowed out and his parents agreed to monitor him in their Green Township home.
Mr. Schwarberg, 43, was arrested July 11 about an hour after a robbery at a suburban Lexington branch of Bank One. Although authorities won't say he's “Average Joe,” the three additional charges are for robberies at banks police believe were hit by Average Joe. He got that name because of his nondescript appearance.
Mr. Schwarberg's parents used the house they own on Lawrence Road to post the $25,000 unsecured bond Thursday in U.S. District Court in Lexington. His father, Thomas, a retired vocational education teacher and administrator, said he or his wife would be home at all times to make sure 43-year-old “Danny” followed the court's rules.
“We don't have much of a nightlife or anything like that,” he told U.S. Magistrate James Todd.
He promised to remove his four shotguns and three rifles from the house. A friend agreed to keep them, he said.
Mr. Schwarberg, wearing a striped dress shirt, brown pants and shackles around his ankles, said little when the magistrate addressed him. He called the magistrate “sir” and said he understood the rules, including that he not commit any offenses while awaiting trial.
Mr. Schwarberg's girlfriend and his mother also watched the proceedings. Mrs. Schwarberg did not testify, but had to swear that she would report her son if
he violated any conditions of his release.
Magistrate Todd agreed to let Mr. Schwarberg out on the conditions, listing among his reasons that Mr. Schwarberg didn't have a gun during the robbery, doesn't have much of a criminal history and no history of substance abuse.
While reporters waited outside Lexington's federal courthouse for Mr. Schwarberg's release to be processed, Lexington authori ties filed the paperwork to charge him with three other counts for robberies in April, June and August of last year, all in Fayette County.
Police allege the July 11 robbery at the Bank One branch was Mr. Schwarberg's second one there. It was the same one he was charged Thursday with robbing in June 1999.
Mr. Schwarberg was being held Thursday night at the Fayette County Jail on three counts of first-degree robbery, with bond initially set at $10,000 full cash for each of the three additional charges.
He was stopped July 11 on his way out of Fayette County along Interstate 75 by police officers who recognized the car as possibly being involved in the Bank One robbery. Cash and Bank One bill wrappers were found in the car, court documents said.
Mr. Schwarberg said in court documents that he has no cash and no checking or savings accounts. He has three children, an 18-year-old daughter and sons ages 17 and 9, and about $6,700 in debt, court documents said.
At the time of his arrest, he was a supervisor at Comair at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, making about $39,000. But in court papers, he said he was unemployed. He said he owes $800 a month in child support.
His finances qualified him for a court-appointed attorney. Another court appearance was tentatively set for today.
Teens' impossible dream
Boaters find less sewage in river
Pipe keeps raw sewage from river
Serial bank robberies alleged
Bush plans public rally
Loyalty is near top of Bush's VP list
Accused mother, 16, sobs in court
Clubhouse gutted, but pool to reopen
Driver gets 10 years in teacher's death
'Fly Jock' show free at Aronoff
Former OSU star Schlichter indicted
Jury: Hooters must pay $275K
Long-lost sister becomes very best friend
Petey: A life not forgotten
GET TO IT
Good ideas for kid's play
Mother's method makes kids work
Pig Parade: Periodic Pig
Who should be cast away?
Audit raps Lebanon for finances
Boy, 16, charged with murder
Cancer Society's resale store needs volunteers
DiGiuro slaying to grand jury
In the Schools
Kids learn safety rules at this camp
Ky. near top in immunizing tots
'Michael Richards Show' a shambles?
Resnick foes win decision
Taft, school-reform group meet
The postman always sings twice? No, but . . .
Witness in fatal shooting recants
