According to a press release from Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig, Leighton Dupree was sentenced on Thursday by Yolo County Superior Court Judge Janet Gaard to 27 years to life in prison for a bank robbery he committed on January 12, 2010.
Mr. Dupree was convicted back in October of second degree burglary. He had two prior serious felonies as well which contributed to the length of the term.
He approached a teller and told her, “I’m not trying to ruin your day, but this a bank robbery.”
Mr. Dupree asked for the manager and when the bank manager approached Mr. Dupree again indicated that this was a bank robbery and he needed money. Mr. Dupree was handed $373 in bank funds and left the bank, and was apprehended a short distance away by Woodland Police Officers.
According to the January 13, 2010 Woodland Daily Democrat, the theft occurred at 10 am at the North Valley Bank.
“The suspect entered North Valley Bank with his hand in his pocket, simulating a weapon,” Sgt. Jason Brooks with the Woodland Police Department told reporters at the scene.
Sgt. Brooks told reporters that the suspect asked for the manager when he came into the bank. When the teller asked why, he said, “Because this is a robbery.”
“Once the suspect got some money, mostly in $20 bills, he walked north across the street and began walking west on Main Street, Brooks said,” the paper reported.
“Most people, after robbing a bank, don’t just walk down Main street,” Sgt. Brooks told reporters.
According to the paper, “An estimated two police officers, who were in plainclothes, were coincidentally at the College and Main intersection. They apparently heard the suspect description on their radios, saw Dupree walking toward them, and arrested him.”
“Carolyn Donahue was outside of her work at WDC Exploration and Wells, which is south of Main Street at College, and saw Dupree being arrested. She and her husband saw several police cars and a couple plainclothes detectives pull guns on the man. They said Dupree quickly complied,” the paper continued.
Deputy Public Defender Teal Dixon did not return a call from the Vanguard on Thursday afternoon, however, the Vanguard intends to follow up on this story.
Some reports had him simulating a weapon, though none was found on him. There are considerable questions about his mental status at the time of the robbery, given the fact that he was found almost casually walking down the street.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
[quote]There are considerable questions about his mental status at the time of the robbery, given the fact that he was found almost causally walking down the street.
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No,he is smart. Mr. Dupree is going to get free medical, dental a nice warm place to stay and all the food he can eat.
Thank you for posting another instance where the criminal justice system is working like a well oiled machine in Yolo County.
There may be questions about Mr Dupree’s mental status at the time of the robbery but that is all the more reason to remove him from the rest of society. This website has posted numerous opinions about individuals with questionable mental status, many appear to be unpredictable. Being unpredictable only means that next time Mr Dupree could use a gun when he robs a bank.
In your follow up please give a little more info on Mr Dupree’s criminal history.
Again, thanks for highlight another story where our system has worked to protect us.
“…next time Mr Dupree could use a gun when he robs a bank.”
….wasn’t there a Tom Cruise movie where these psychics(floating in this sensory deprivation bath) predicted future crimes to have the future perpetrators arrested?
[quote]….wasn’t there a Tom Cruise movie where these psychics(floating in this sensory deprivation bath) predicted future crimes to have the future perpetrators arrested? [/quote]
Good flick. The difference is that Mr Dupree has already robbed a bank. Mr Dupree is a convicted felon. Do you have any questions based on reality?
If in fact Mr. Dupree does have mental problems, I can’t see where he’s going to get any help in prison for 27 or more years. Wouldn’t he be better off someplace where he could get treatment?
dmg: “Some reports had him simulating a weapon, though none was found on him. There are considerable questions about his mental status at the time of the robbery, given the fact that he was found almost casually walking down the street.”
His attorney did not claim insanity, did he? In which case the issue of mental illness would not seem relevant…
With luck, he will learn from his experience what he did not during his prior incarcerations for felonies. Time will rehabilitate this fine specimen of a human being.
“Time will rehabilitate this fine specimen of a human being. “
The soonest he can get out, he would be 79.
The update will be sometime late next week.
79 .. much too soon, he needs more time to mature and fully benefit from his rehabilitative experience in prison.
“Mr. Dupree is going to get free medical, dental a nice warm place to stay and all the food he can eat. “
What is interesting is that medical at prison is actually quite poor. Here’s a report that will disabuse you of that notion ([url]http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=7976780&rss=rss-kgo-article-7976780[/url]). As I understand it mental treatment is even worse.
Not that I like to give our crooked DA any credit. The guy did rob a bank, was caught and was not shot in the back by gang officers, so all in all he came out pretty well.
Was he Hispanic? I did not see a gang enhancement charge? and he was not shot in the back. All things considered, he is pretty lucky.