A federal magistrate judge has ordered the release of one of a married pair of bank robbery suspects, citing her strong family support and the absence of a criminal history.
During a hearing in U.S. District Court on Friday U.S. District Magistrate Judge David Nuffer ordered the release of 20-year-old Kylee Rich pending the outcome of charges of armed bank robbery and an additional firearm enhancement. If convicted, she faces a seven-year mandatory sentence.
Nuffer, however had a different estimation of Rich's husband, Joshua Rich, who has a long criminal history spotted with arrest warrants, failures to appear in court and probation violations. Nuffer deemed Joshua Rich, 25, a danger to the community and a flight risk. He was ordered to remain in federal custody.
An attorney for Joshua Rich said he is aware of his criminal record and was therefore "very realistic about the situation."
Police say the couple, dubbed Utah County's "Bonnie and Clyde" robbed a Lindon-area bank three times at gunpoint then used the stolen loot to buy drugs and take a honeymoon trip to Vegas after getting married between the first and second robberies. The two also took a second trip to Vegas and another to Palm Springs, paying cash all the way, police said.
Assistant U.S. attorney Carlos Esqueda said in court that the couple was driven by an addiction to heroin and other drugs.
An attorney for Kylee Rich downplayed his client's drug use saying she was a "young lady caught up in this fast world" and had only "dabbled" in the use of heroin, as well as methamphetamine and cocaine.
Esqueda said the pair suffered from a serious drug addiction that should not be taken lightly.
Nuffer noted that Kylee Rich's parents, who were in court Friday, were willing to sign an agreement to ensure their daughter's appearance in court. Nuffer ordered Kylee Rich be monitored electronically and released her to her parents. She was also ordered to maintain full-time employment and to undergo drug treatment as well as random drug testing.
Contact between the couple must also be supervised by their attorneys, Nuffer said.
The couple was arrested and charged for three armed robberies at the same Wells Fargo Bank in Utah County. According to the charges filed in federal court, Joshua Rich and a third male suspect, whose name has yet to be released, conducted the armed robberies. Prosecutors say Kylee Rich drove a get-away vehicle in the third robbery. Esqueda said Kylee Rich also knew about the prior bank robberies and did nothing to report them.
Joshua Rich had just been released from prison when he met and married Kylee Rich. Family members said they had hoped marriage would turn Joshua's life around. Instead the couple was dragged into a world of drug addiction.
Esqueda said federal agents continue to investigate the third suspect. He said his office plans to seek federal grand jury indictments on all three next week.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com