70-year-old accused bank robber stays in custody

A 70-year-old woman accused of duping a man to be her getaway driver for a bank robbery has chosen to stay in jail.

Sandra Bathke is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery in the Elysian State Bank robbery Dec. 15.

The Free Press of Mankato reports she requested to stay in custody at a hearing Tuesday, rather than being released on her own recognizance because she had no place to live.

She's accused of tricking the 26-year-old son of her landlord to take her to the bank because she was about to be evicted for failure to pay her rent. She allegedly made off with $3,700.

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A judge last week told Bathke she shouldn't remain in the Janesville apartment, given the circumstances.

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Information from: The Free Press

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)