GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A bank robber whose case prompted a change in state law was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison.
Jeffrey Morris, 55, was also placed on extended supervision for two years by Judge John Zakowski.
Morris did not address the court at Tuesday’s hearing.
A jury convicted him of theft from a financial institution, but it acquitted him of a more serious count of robbery of a financial institution for the July 28 incident at the Associated Bank in downtown Green Bay.
Morris left the scene with $2,500 after handing the teller a note which said “100s, 50s and 20s,” and then saying “I want it all. All of it,” to the teller. He was arrested a short time later, with the cash.
Originally, a court commissioner dismissed the robbery of a financial institution charge, noting the statue defined the crime as “by use of force or threat of imminent force” but there were no allegations Morris used or threatened any force. Charges were then refiled. Despite another defense challenge, a judge allowed the case to proceed, saying a jury could make a “reasonable inference” that force was an option.
The jury, however, decided not to convict Morris of that count.
The case prompted legislation redefining a “robbery” to include creating circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe the use of force was imminent.
This new definition better aligns with current training policies of bank employees, which instruct them not to resist and to hand over any money when prompted, said state Sen. Eric Wimberger, a sponsor of the bill.
The law couldn’t be applied retroactively to Morris, however.
Morris, who said he was homeless, told police he got the money to buy something to drink on his birthday, or to get a motel room for the night.
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