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A Tooele couple who brought their two young children along while they robbed a bank earlier this month now face federal charges.
A grand jury on Wednesday indicted William Joseph Parker and Michelle Joyce Parker, both 27, on three counts of bank robbery. The indictment alleges they robbed three Wells Fargo banks this winter. The Parkers will make their first appearance in U.S. District Court on Thursday.
The duo were caught on March 11 after an off-duty police officer noticed a suspicious vehicle outside the Tooele bank. The officer watched as a woman got out of the car, entered the bank and then came running out moments later.
According to bank employees, the woman seen by the officer handed a teller a note demanding cash.
"No silent alarms, Be Quiet! Loose Bills," the note reportedly stated. "Hurry. Sorry ... I don't want anyone to get hurt."
The teller reportedly turned over $956 and the woman fled back to her car, which witnesses later said a man was driving.
As the car took, the off-duty officer followed and eventually pulled the vehicle over. Before the officer had a chance to talk to the occupants of the car he heard over the radio that a bank robbery had just happened at the Wells Fargo. He called for backup and the couple was arrested.
Officers found two children, ages 2 and 5, sitting in the back seat. They also found the note used during the robbery in the car, along with $836 in cash and clothing matching witnesses' description of the suspects, according to the original arrest report.
The indictment alleges the couple also robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Magna on Jan. 14, and a Wells Fargo bank in Murray on Feb. 5.
The Parkers reportedly told investigators they robbed the Tooele bank because they had fallen into debt and faced eviction.
They face up to 20 years in prison for each count if convicted.
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