*** MEDIA ADVISORY***May 14, 2009 CHASE BANK ROBBERS CHASED, CAUGHT, AND CONVICTED Media Contact:  Curtis T. Hill, Jr. - 296-1888 Chester Higgins was sentenced today in the Elkhart Circuit Court for his involvement in the Chase Bank robbery on November 7, 2007.  Higgins pled guilty last month to Armed Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery.  Higgins received a sentence of 20 years imprisonment, with 2 of those years suspended on reporting probation.  Higgins’ sentence concludes the successful prosecution of all 5 individuals involved in two robberies of the Chase Bank.The Chase Bank was robbed on November 7, 2007, and again on January 16, 2008.  In each robbery, two masked men entered the bank with guns and ordered employees and customers to the ground.  In each robbery, the robbers fled in an awaiting sports utility vehicle.  Chester Higgins and DeMarlon Johnson ultimately confessed to the November 7, 2007 robbery.  Cecil Hall and Kaylin Butler confessed to the January 16, 2008 robbery.  Elkhart Police investigators ultimately determined that Willie Norman, Jr. (aka “Sonny”) was the mastermind behind both robberies.In February, Norman was convicted by a jury in the Elkhart Circuit Court of two counts of Armed Robbery, two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and one count of Receiving Stolen Property.  Hon. Terry Shewmaker merged the conspiracy convictions with the robbery convictions.  Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Francisco argued for the maximum sentence permissible under the law, citing Norman’s criminal history which dated back to 1968.  Additionally, Norman had a prior armed robbery conviction in Elkhart County, wherein he utilized the same modus operandi.  Shewmaker agreed with the DPA and sentenced Norman to 43 years imprisonment.                                                *  *  *