A Spokane bank robber who shot a customer during the heist has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Don Charles Owens, 35, of Elma, Washington, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice on August 31, 2017 for his role in the April 28, 2016 armed bank robbery at a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Spokane.
Owens pleaded guilty to the charges of Armed Bank Robbery and Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. According to court documents, Owens entered the bank wearing a black ski mask and announced he was robbing the bank. He ordered customers to the ground and demanded money from the bank’s representatives.
As Owens attempted to flee, a customer moved to stop him and struggled with him. Owens produced a handgun and shot the customer twice. Owens then fled the bank, leaving behind the black ski mask that the customer had pulled off during the struggle.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Spokane Police Department investigated the case and were able to recover DNA from the ski mask that matched Owens’ DNA on file. Owens was later identified as the suspect and was charged with the crimes.
The case was prosecuted by James A. Goeke, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Owens was sentenced to 18 years in prison, a sentence that sends a strong message that egregious conduct will not be tolerated in the Eastern District of Washington.
The Spokane Police Department and the FBI were commended for their tenacious resolve in the successful investigation of the case. Owens’ sentence is a result of the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies in bringing him to justice.
Defendant: Don Charles Owens
Criminal Charges: Armed Bank Robbery, Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence
City, State: Spokane, Washington
Crime Date: April 28, 2016
Sentence: 18 years in prison
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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