Morley bank robbery suspect pleads guilty

A suspect in the May 20 robbery of the First Commercial Bank in Morley, Missouri, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court.

Alexander T. Trotter, 31, of St. Louis pleaded guilty to a federal bank robbery charge at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

As part of his plea agreement, Trotter forfeited any property taken from his getaway vehicle and cannot appeal any sentence in the case unless it is higher than federal sentencing guidelines recommend.

Trotter faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or a combination of fines and imprisonment. In addition, Trotter also potentially faces a period of supervised release of up to three years. Sentencing is at the discretion of U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. and will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 20.

Pamela M. Lathon, 46, and Tyrice G. Royston, 26, both of St. Louis, also were arrested in connection with the robbery, which occurred between 1:15 and 1:30 p.m. May 20 at the bank at 23134 U.S. 61 in Morley, said detective Branden Caid of the Scott County Sheriff's Department. No one was injured, police reported.

Two bank employees, one of whom was sprayed in the face with pepper spray, were bound with zip ties when police arrived on the scene, U.S. assistant district attorney Keith Sorrell said during proceedings Monday.

The suspects' vehicle was spotted shortly after the robbery near Bell City, Missouri, in Stoddard County by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, according to a news release. Trotter, Royston and Lathon were arrested after being compared to bank surveillance video, the release said.

Police searched the vehicle after obtaining a warrant, according to the release. It contained about $12,000 in cash taken from the bank during the robbery, Sorrell said during proceedings.

During questioning, Trotter and Royston admitted their involvement in the bank robbery, the release said.

Royston is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Sept. 4, and no trial date is set for Lathon, according to online court records.

Pertinent address:

555 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

23134 U.S. 61, Morley, Mo.