Peru bank robbery trial postponed

A bank robbery trial was postponed Thursday, but attorneys in the case said they are close to an agreement with one of the two men charged in the Sept. 4 robbery of Peru Federal Savings Bank.
Richard M. Rigg, 53, of Rock Island and Chad R. Diederich, 36, of Carbon Cliffs were scheduled for trial Monday for aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony carrying 4-15 years in prison.
The trial was postponed, however, after attorneys announced that Rigg could be close to a plea agreement. Diederich, unhappy with public defender Tim Cappellini, said she hopes to hire a new lawyer.
Both men will appear Dec. 17 for separate status hearings. New trial dates are pending.
Diederich allegedly entered Peru Federal Savings Bank on Shooting Park Road in Peru and presented a note to the teller asking for money.
He was holding what was believed to be a weapon, prosecutors said, but the still-missing “weapon” is believed to have been a toy gun purchased from Walgreen’s before the robbery.
State police apprehended the suspects 20 minutes later on Interstate 80 in Ottawa, as they attempted to get away in a blue passenger car driven by Rigg. Police recovered more than $5,000 and traced part of the funds to Peru Federal.
Bond remains set at $250,000. Each needs to post $25,000 in cash to be released. Diederich is eligible for an extended term of up to 30 years, due to a previous Class 1 felony conviction.
Bank robbery is a crime subject to federal as well as state prosecution. However, La Salle County state’s attorney Brian Towne said he conferred with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. All parties, he said, agreed that Towne would try the suspects first; the feds have reserved the right to prosecute them later.

Attorneys also agreed to continue the Monday trial of a Peru man charged with child pornography.
Fredrick G. Kubberness, 41, of 609 Rock St., could face 2-5 years in prison if convicted of two counts of child pornography, a Class 3 felony. Due to a witness problem, the trial was moved to Feb. 1. He will next appear Jan. 28.
Prosecutors indicated that Kubberness possessed at least two sexually explicit images of a person that he should have known was a child. He is not charged with producing or manufacturing any pornography.

Source: newstrib.com/