| Robbery
suspects to be prosecuted in federal court
The man and woman charged in connection with the robbery of U.S. Bank on Friday, May 16, were indicted in U.S. District Court for that crime last Wednesday, May 21. Subsequently the state charges in the case have been dropped and the case has been transferred to federal court in Coeur d’Alene. Ricky A. Fisher, 35, of Nampa and Jennifer L. Balfe, 19, of Meridian, made initial appearances Friday, May 23 before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. Both pleaded innocent to bank robbery and a trial date was set for July 22. According to police and court testimony, a man walked into the Cottonwood branch of U.S. Bank, handed a note to the teller demanding money and made off with $2,324. Fisher and Balfe were arrested Sunday, May 18 at Lewiston after a tip that was received by the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office was relayed to Lewiston Police that the alleged suspects were in the area. They made initial appearances Wednesday, May 21 in Idaho County Magistrate Court in Grangeville and were being held in the Idaho County Jail. During the initial hearing Fisher told Magistrate Jeff P. Payne that he had been release from federal prison only two weeks earlier for bank robbery. Balfe said she had no previous criminal record. Idaho County Prosecutor Kirk A. MacGregor said Friday he dismissed the state case without prejudice at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. That means MacGregor could choose to file charges against Fisher and Balfe at a later date. With the federal charges being made MacGregor felt it best to focus on one jurisdiction at a time and not be moving them around from state to federal court. |
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