Lumberton bank robber pleads guilty

A Kountze man has pleaded guilty to robbing a bank in the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston announced Sept. 16. Timothy Shane Mitchell, 38, pleaded guilty to bank robbery before District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented in court, on June 6, Mitchell robbed the Lumberton branch of the Community Bank of Texas. Mitchell approached a teller’s station at the bank and gave the teller a note demanding money. Mitchell told the teller he had a gun, which he threatened to use if she alerted authorities. The teller gave Mitchell a stack of currency and he left the bank. The teller immediately activated the panic button alerting police to the robbery.  Witnesses were able to describe Mitchell’s vehicle, which was apprehended shortly after the robbery.

Mitchell was arrested and the $5,860 in currency was recovered at that time. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8. Mitchell faces up to 20 years in federal prison upon sentencing.