Robbery Suspect Held Without Bond Man Accused Of Robbing Valley Bank Last Week

A man accused of robbing a Spokane Valley bank last week was ordered held without bond Wednesday after an appearance before a federal magistrate.

Charles David West, 37, of Newman Lake, will remain in jail until he stands trial in U.S. District Court for bank robbery, Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno ruled.

The judge also determined that there is probable cause to believe West is the man who robbed a U.S. Bank branch in an Albertson’s supermarket at Liberty Lake.

With that ruling, West’s case will be bound over to U.S. District Court for trial. No date is set yet.

A federal grand jury also will review the case and likely return a formal indictment against West.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice told the judge that West “has a criminal history that is egregious at best.”

His record stretches back to 1980 in Florida where he was convicted of burglary, Rice said. The following year, West was convicted of another burglary and sent to a Florida prison for three years.

In 1986, he was convicted of second-degree arson and sentenced to 30 months in prison, Rice told the court.

West was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon in 1988, and a string of misdemeanors from 1991 to 1995.

In 1998, he was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm in Spokane County, Rice said.

“He has a 20-year solid history of criminal activity,” the prosecutor said.

He argued that West should remain in jail without bond before trial because he poses a danger to the public.

Federal Defender Gerald Smith argued that a bond should be set for West so he can return home while the bank robbery charge is resolved.

Smith said West isn’t a flight risk, has never threatened anyone and would agree to drug-testing if released.

West had a leg amputated following an accident a few years ago, and currently lives on disability payments, Smith said.

The judge said because West’s criminal record “is significant,” she couldn’t establish a combination of conditions for his release.

The judge reviewed a six-page affidavit from FBI agent Bernadette Brown, who investigated the Jan. 27 holdup of a U.S. Bank at Liberty Lake.

A robber went into the bank about 9:45 a.m. and handed a teller a note saying: “Give me all your loose bills and no one gets hurt.”

No weapon was displayed, but the teller complied, giving the robber $1,372, according to court documents.

A Washington State Patrol cadet, Anthony Scarano, was in the bank during the robbery. The cadet attempted to stop the suspect outside the bank, then followed him to a home at 25318 E. Wabash Circle.

West surrendered without incident after a three-hour standoff with sheriff’s deputies.