| For Immediate Release Case #08CF0345 February 4, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
UPDATE: “HOBO BANDIT” AND GET-AWAY
DRIVER ARRAIGNED FOR STRING OF
ORANGE COUNTY BANK ROBBERIES
*“Hobo Bandit” is a Third-Striker with multiple prior convictions
SANTA ANA – A man was in court today on charges of committing one attempted and two Orange County banks robberies. A co-defendant was charged with robbery and attempted robbery and is accused of being the get-away driver. Kirby Guyette, 52, a transient, named by law enforcement as the “Hobo Bandit,” is a Third-Striker with two Strike priors for a residential burglary and a burglary with a gun in 1997. Guyette also faces sentencing enhancements for six prison priors for convictions in 1979, 1987 and 1992 for commercial burglary, 1993 for false impersonation, 1995 for possession of dangerous drugs, and 2001 for dangerous drugs obtained by fraud. Guyette faces a maximum of 91 years to life in prison in convicted.
Jack Paine, 52, Santa Ana, faces a maximum of seven years and eight months if convicted. Paine has two prison prior sentencing enhancements for possession of narcotics convictions in 1996 and 1999.
Bail was set for Guyette at $1 million and at $500,000 for Paine. Pre-trial for both defendants is scheduled for February 8, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 15, 2008.
On January 22, 2008, Guyette is accused of entering a Bank of America in Santa Ana and approaching a female teller. He is accused of handing her a note demanding money. After the teller handed him the cash, Guyette is accused of walking out of the bank and getting into a waiting car. Paine is accused of being the get-away driver in a green Chevrolet Astro van and helping Guyette to flee the scene.
On January 26, 2008, Guyette is accused of entering the same Bank of America in Santa Ana and approaching a male teller with the intent to commit another robbery. The female teller from the first robbery recognized the defendant and alerted her co-worker. The male teller told Guyette that he would not allow him to commit the robbery. Guyette is accused of looking around and then leaving the bank. Paine is accused of waiting outside in the van and the two defendants are accused of fleeing the scene together.
On January 28, 2008, Guyette is accused of walking into a Washington Mutual in Foothill Ranch and handing the male teller a demand note. He is accused of robbing the teller and leaving the bank.
Guyette and Paine were arrested Thursday, January 31, 2008, after Santa Ana police officers spotted the green Astro van in a liquor store parking lot. Both defendants were in the car.