SMETHPORT — The Olean, N.Y., man who robbed an Eldred bank in June pleaded guilty to related charges Thursday in McKean County Court.
Edwin McPeak, 39, of Irving Street, entered a guilty plea to 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, said District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer.
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, according to Shaffer.
Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7. He was represented by Public Defender Phil Clabaugh.
