Kroger bandit pleads guilty in N.C.

Local

March 15, 2010

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

GREENEVILLE, N.C. — The man who robbed the Mt. Vernon Kroger store in September 2009 as well as 14 banks in six states has pleaded guilty in federal court.

Chad E. Schaffner, 38, was wanted on a multi-state bank robbery spree when he robbed the Kroger store at gunpoint on Sept. 4, 2009. A few days later, Schaffner robbed the UMB Bank in Caseyville, and was finally arrested by police without incident on Sept. 14, 2009 at a motel in Kingdom City, Mo.

Schaffner was identified as the man who robbed Kroger through surveillance tapes, and local police also identified his get-away car as the one he used in the Caseyville UMB Bank robbery as well as others. Schaffner was on the FBI Most Wanted list for several weeks, and featured on “America’s Most Wanted,” which led to him being spotted by a former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper in Kingdom City, Mo.

Schaffner was charged in federal court with the Kroger robbery and with robbing banks in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The charges from each state were transferred to North Carolina, and Schaffner has admitted to robbing the banks and the Kroger store. He entered guilty pleas to the bank robberies in Fletcher, N.C.; Hendersonville, N.C.; Forest Acres, S.C.; Mt. Pleasant, S.C; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Jefferson City, Tenn.; and Morristown, Tenn.

According to the plea agreements, Schaffner said he started robbing banks as a way to support his drug addiction.

Schaffner’s sentencing has not been scheduled, but the U.S. Attorney is asking for maximum sentences on all counts, and has petitioned the court to consider enhanced sentences based on prior crimes and his use of a firearm to commit the robberies.

If the court determines enhancement appropriate, Schaffner would have a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

If the court does not find enhancement appropriate, Schaffner faces a maximum of 25 years maximum sentence per charge and five years’ mandatory supervised release.

Text Only

Local

Girl Scouts sponsor dancing fundraiser
MT. VERNON — A mirrored disco ball trophy is up for grabs again as the community’s finest prepare to dance for a cause.

July 30, 2010
MVTHS behavior program growing
MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon Township High School is expanding its Positive Behavior Intervention System this year — and partnering with area businesses to fine tune goals and objectives.

July 30, 2010
Deadline extended in water purchase dispute
BENTON — The Rend Lake Conservancy District is giving Pittsburg and Johnston City another 30 days to come to an agreement about whether the district should provide water directly to Pittsburg.

July 30, 2010
DMDC seeks upstairs living downtown
MT. VERNON — The Downtown Mt. Vernon Development Corporation is working on a proposal to the city to allow residential rental spaces on the second floor of businesses in the district.

July 30, 2010
UPDATE: Jury in Wilks verdict - Not guilty
MT. VERNON — The courtroom erupted as Judge Terry Gamber read the jury verdict in the first-degree murder trial of 21-year-old Lashawn Wilks: Not guilty.

July 29, 2010
JCOIF holding Bag-A-Thon fundraiser
MT. VERNON — Jefferson County Operation Iraqi Freedom is holding its second fundraiser of the year this Saturday, with a Bag-A-Thon at Kroger.

July 29, 2010
YouthBuild program seeks mentors
MT. VERNON — Through YouthBuild, the United Methodist Children’s Home has been able to support youth in their quest to transform their lives and roles in society.

July 29, 2010
Bethel Grade School enters Kohl’s contest
MT. VERNON — Kohl’s Department Stores is giving away $10 million, and Bethel Grade School wants a piece of it.

July 29, 2010
Judge locks courtroom after threat in Wilks murder trial
MT. VERNON — Lashawn Wilks is expected to testify this morning as the last witness in his own defense of first-degree murder.

July 29, 2010
Burns discusses ethics reform laws
MT. VERNON — Recent ethics reform laws will mean Secretary of State Inspector General Jim Burns will be working as a watchdog for not only employees of the SOS office, but for lobbyists throughout the state as well.

July 29, 2010
More Local Headlines