SMETHPORT — The Olean, N.Y., man who robbed an Eldred bank in June was sentenced to state prison Thursday in McKean County Court for the Pennsylvania portion of the crimes he was charged with committing that day.
Edwin McPeak, 39, of Irving Street, was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in state prison for charges of robbery of a financial institution with the use of a firearm, robbery — placing two victims in fear of injury with the use of a firearm, theft from the bank and receiving stolen property relating to a vehicle taken from Olean. McPeak pleaded guilty to those charges in early September.
On June 6, Lewis Run-based state police received a “be on the lookout” alert from Cattaraugus County, N.Y., regarding a vehicle stolen from Olean — a truck belonging to the City of Olean, taken from Franchot Park — described as a dark green Ford truck.
In New York state, McPeak is alleged to have also robbed the High Point Federal Credit Union in Portville before traveling to Eldred, where multiple calls were made to 911 reporting a bank robbery at Hamlin Bank there.
A male, later identified as McPeak, entered the bank in Eldred wearing a gorilla-style mask and brandishing a firearm while demanding money from the cashiers, Shaffer said. Police had said he obtained $19,610 from the bank, including $2,000 in “bait money.”
McPeak then fled in the stolen truck, leading police on a high-speed chase until it crashed on Rew hill. Officers took McPeak into custody and observed loose U.S. currency, a gun and a backpack inside the vehicle. Inside the backpack was a gorilla-style mask like the one used in the bank robbery.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer sought a sentencing enhancement that applies when a weapon is used, allowing for a longer sentence, which was applied by the court.
In addition to incarceration, McPeak will be subject to consecutive supervision and must have no contact with victims or witnesses, pay restitution for the damage to the vehicle and property and provide a DNA sample. McPeak, who was represented by Public Defender Phil Clabaugh, is ineligible for any early parole program.
The stolen money, Shaffer reported, was recovered and will be returned to Hamlin Bank.
