Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH BEND - Pauper counsel will be appointed for the two men accused of robbing the Leesburg National City Bank branch at gunpoint May 27.
Ralph D. Berkey Jr., 34, Elkhart, and Criss Duncan, 43, of Shipshewana, each were arraigned in federal court in South Bend on charges of armed bank robbery and a firearm offense. They appeared without attorneys and requested the court appoint attorneys for them.
The two were taken into custody by late Saturday and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail until federal authorities assumed jurisdiction of the case earlier this week. Local charges also are expected against the men, but no such cases were filed as of this morning.
Berkey and Duncan allegedly entered the Leesburg bank at 10:30 a.m. May 27 while armed with military-style weapons and dressed in camouflage clothing. Both also were reportedly protected by homemade steel-plated bulletproof vests.
The local charges will address gunfire allegedly exchanged with Milford town marshal Dave Hobbs shortly after the robbery. Hobbs opened fire on the vehicle Berkey and Duncan were in after reportedly seeing one of the men crouched down in the pickup and pointing a rifle at him. Rounds allegedly fired from the suspects' vehicle struck Hobbs' squad car.
Search warrants executed at both suspects' homes uncovered numerous weapons. A booby-trapped gun safe was opened and weapons, including a grenade launcher were seized from inside.
When the two were taken into custody near Berkey's home, Berkey reportedly was in possession of more than $7,000 and a search of the car the two were in turned up another $16,320.
Court documents indicate that about $44,000 was taken during the robbery.
If convicted of the bank robbery charges, Berkey aand Duncan could each be sentenced to seven to 25 years in prison. The prosecution in the federal case is seeking that the two remain in custody until trial.
