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Bungling robber convicted
Man gets eight years in connection with failed bank heistDate published: 6/18/2004
By KEITH EPPS
A bungling robber who locked himself out of his getaway car and shot himself after robbing a Caroline County bank has been ordered to serve eight years behind bars. Edward B. Blaine, 62, was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years in prison with all but eight suspended, after pleading guilty to three charges in Caroline Circuit Court. According to evidence, Blaine robbed the Union Bank & Trust branch in Port Royal on Jan. 15, 2003. Blaine entered the bank about 11 a.m., wearing a stocking over his face. He walked up to two tellers and told them to "be cool" and give him money. He had a gun in his pocket. Blaine left the bank with about $5,000 in cash and made his way to a waiting vehicle across the street, records state. But he was unable to get into the vehicle, which he'd rented in Maryland, because he had locked the keys inside of it, according to the evidence. He began banging on the window with a board in an attempt to get inside. When that failed, he tossed the board into a nearby pickup. That attracted the attention of two men at a nearby business. Emmitt Lowe, the business owner, and Larry "Pete" Aguilar eventually confronted the suspect. During the ensuing commotion, a teller told Lowe that Blaine had just robbed the bank. Blaine ran toward the nearby Rappahannock River with Lowe and Aguilar in pursuit. Blaine's pursuers caught and tackled him near the intersection of Water Street and U.S. 301. When Blaine tried to take his gun out of his coat pocket, he shot himself in his right leg. Police said one of the pursuers shot Blaine again when he continued to struggle. Police arrived a short time later and took Blaine into custody. Blaine, who was represented by attorneys Mark Gardner and George Davis, pleaded guilty yesterday to robbery, carrying a firearm into a bank with the intent to commit larceny and possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. In exchange for his guilty pleas, Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Latney dropped two attempted-murder charges. Blaine was supposed to be in King George Circuit Court the day after the bank robbery on four charges of possessing a firearm as a felon. He was arrested in King George in 2002 after police found 18 guns hidden in a wall of his residence there. Blaine had served nearly 20 years in federal prison after being convicted of a bank robbery in Maryland in 1963. His King George trial was delayed and is now scheduled for next week. Blaine weighed well over 200 pounds when he was arrested last year. His attorneys said his weight had dropped to 121 pounds by yesterday. The attorneys said he has apparently been refusing to eat while in custody. To reach KEITH EPPS: 540/374-5404 kepps@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Caroline Date published: 6/18/2004
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