Crime & Safety

Coulter Pleads Not Guilty To Attempted Bank Robbery

A federal grand jury has indicted Stephen Coulter of Ramona on a charge of attempted bank robbery at Wells Fargo on May 3.

A 52-year-old Ramona man accused of the Wells Fargo Bank branch inside Stater Bros. this month will be evaluated for competency to stand trial.

In the U.S. District Court in San Diego, Stephen Coulter on Thursday entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of attempted bank robbery. Coulter has been indicted by a grand jury.

Magistrate Judge David Bartick ordered an evaluation of Coulter's mental health and medical records to see whether he is competent to stand trial. A hearing has been set for June 14 to review the evaluation of a court appointed medical professional.

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On May 22, the court will take another look at whether Coulter will continue to be detained or whether bail conditions might be set.

Coulter is accused of handing a teller a note demanding $2,000 on May 3. Though a teller was preparing the cash, Coulter walked out of the store, according to investigators.

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A motion hearing to do trial setting is tentatively set for June 18. The case is tentatively assigned to Judge Michael Anello.

Coulter is represented by federal public defenders Bridget Kennedy and Steven Brody. Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Dale Blankenship is the prosecutor.


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