Terry Hager, 48 was charged Monday with one class-A felony count of first-degree robbery for a stickup Saturday at the UMB Bank at 1211 North Belt.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10-30 years or life. It also requires 85% of any sentence to be served before becoming eligible for parole. A judge set bail at $150,000 (cash only).
The St. Joseph Police Department previously said they took the suspect into custody Sunday and impounded a pickup truck which may have been used in the robbery.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Mr Hager allegedly entered the bank and demanded money, pointing toward his waistband indicating he was armed with a gun. The teller reported seeing what she believed to be the handle of a gun. He then allegedly did the same thing with a second teller. He allegedly told them to lie on the ground as he left the bank.
Authorities said “it is not unreasonable to believe the defendant will not appear in court.” Police say the defendant fled from officers in his vehicle when they tried to stop him for the offense. According to the affidavit, Mr Hager has a prior felony conviction for bank robbery, in which he shot the teller with a handgun. He is on federal parole after serving a lengthy prison term for the robbery. He also has prior convictions for stealing, stealing a vehicle, burglary, forgery and domestic assault, according to the court affidavit.
Mr Hager is being held in the Buchanan County Jail awaiting his first court appearance on Tuesday, March 8.
He was arrested at the South Belt Walmart Sunday morning. Officials credited tips from Facebook for helping locate the suspect.