Published: July 10, 2009 12:17 pm      

Jeffersonville man guilty in 2008 bank robbery

Duward Roby faces up to 50 years in prison

A Jeffersonville man was convicted Thursday of robbing a Jeffersonville bank at gunpoint, and faces as many as 50 years in prison.

A Clark County Superior Court No. 1 jury found Duward Thomas Roby guilty of four counts of class B felony armed robbery. Roby then pleaded guilty to an additional charge of being a habitual offender.

Because the robbery counts must run concurrently, he faces six to 20 years on those charges and an additional 30 years as a habitual offender.

Police arrested Roby, then 45, and 29-year-old Kevin Gordon shortly after a reported armed robbery at the First Savings Bank — located at 2213 Allison Lane — in April 2008. Police officers on Ind. 265 located a vehicle that matched the description and license-plate number provided by a witness.

Roby and Gordon were reportedly inside the vehicle along with thousands of dollars in cash, a fully loaded semi-automatic 9-millimeter handgun, a ski mask and gloves.

“I think the jury definitely made the right decision,” said Jeffersonville Police Department Detective Todd Hollis. “It was clear that Roby robbed that bank and put several citizens in fear when he did it.”

Roby was charged with one count of armed robbery for each of the four tellers robbed.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said they will request Roby receive the maximum possible sentence of 50 years based on his criminal record.

“Mr. Roby has an extensive criminal history, and his level of violence seems to be intensifying. It was very important he stay behind bars for a long time,” Mull said.

Roby’s previous arrests include theft, forgery, battery and resisting law enforcement.

Jennifer Culotta, Roby’s attorney, said there are some “extenuating circumstances” that could allow for a lighter sentence. She also plans to appeal the conviction.

“We’re going to review the case and consider our appeal options,” she said.

Roby is set for sentencing Aug. 10 at 1:30 p.m. Gordon is scheduled to begin trial Aug. 11.