Court records: Robber threatened to kill teller’s family during heist
The 50-year-old woman accused of robbing two banks on the East End this year allegedly threatened to kill the teller’s family during a Riverhead robbery in March in which she stole more than $4,700, according to Riverhead court documents.
Janet Terry of Riverhead was ordered held on $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond by Riverhead Town Justice Allen Smith Tuesday morning after she was arraigned on a felony robbery charge for the March 19 incident at the Suffolk County National Bank.
Ms. Terry had previously been arraigned on the same charge Saturday in Southampton Town for her role in a June 26 bank robbery at the Chase bank on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays. She was ordered held on $10,000 bail on that case.
Each of the third-degree robbery charges Ms. Terry faces is a Class D Felony, which carry penalties of up to seven years in jail.
Ms. Terry, who appeared in Riverhead court wearing a green prisoners uniform and handcuffs, was listed as living in Southampton by Southampton Town Police but said in Riverhead court that she lives on Fanning Boulevard in Riverhead and has for several years.
She said she is a certified home care aid who works for a company called Recco Home Care Service in East Quogue.
Ms. Terry has two prior arrests but no prior convictions, according to assistant district attorney Dan Cronin.
Ms. Terry’s attorney, Peter Smith, said grand jury notices have been exchanged, indicating an indictment of Ms. Terry in a higher court may be possible in the future.
Mr. Smith said they will not post bail until she is arraigned in county court, which he expects to happen next week.
The two robberies were similar, according to police accounts.
On March 19, 2015, at about 10:36 a.m., Ms. Terry allegedly entered the Suffolk County National Bank on Second Street in Riverhead and handed the teller a note demanding money, according to police.
She indicated that she would kill the teller’s family if the clerk didn’t comply with the demand, according to court records. Ms. Terry was given $4,730 in cash and left the bank, according to court records.
On June 26th, 2015, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Ms. Terry entered the Chase Bank in Hampton Bays, approached a teller, also threatened her with a note, and demanded money, according to Southampton Town Police. Authorities said Ms. Terry was given cash and fled the scene.
Ms. Terry was arrested at around 2 p.m. Friday by New York State Troopers following a traffic stop on Tadd Street in the Shinnecock Reservation.
Her next court date in Riverhead Town court is scheduled for Oct. 6.
