American Scene: Siblings get 35 years for bank robbery

VALDOSTA | Three Florida siblings involved in a cross-country crime spree were sentenced by a federal judge Monday to more than 35 years in prison.

Senior Judge Hugh Lawson sentenced Ryan Dougherty, Lee Grace Dougherty and Dylan Dougherty Stanley to identical sentences for their role in the August 2011 robbery of a South Georgia bank. Their spree began in Florida and ended in a shootout in Colorado.

Judge Lawson went beyond normal sentencing guidelines, saying that even though the trio was young and impulsive, the “escapade” could not be condoned.

Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26, and Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, did not voice opposition to the sentence, but Ryan Dougherty, 21, called the judge’s decision rash and “not in line with the crimes I’ve committed.”

Before the sentences were announced, the three siblings apologized to the employees at the Valdosta bank where the robbery took place. Dylan Dougherty Stanley acknowledged that it was a “scary situation” for them.

Judge Lawson sentenced each sibling to 35 years and 8 months, and to five years of supervised release after their prison sentences. He said that with good conduct they could get out of prison after 30 years.

OKLAHOMA

Rifle found during search of teen’s home

OKLAHOMA CITY | A small-caliber rifle and notes about a possible attack on a northeast Oklahoma high school were found at the home of a teenager accused of plotting to shoot classmates and detonate bombs, police said Monday.

Sammie Eaglebear Chavez, 18, lived at home with his mother in Bartlesville, about 50 miles north of Tulsa. He was arrested early Friday morning and has been charged with a felony count of planning to perform an act of violence.

Investigators still are sifting through possible evidence recovered during Friday’s search to determine how serious the threat was, said Bartlesville PoliceCapt. Jay Hastings.

“Part of the factor is whether the person is capable of carrying out the threat. Do they have weapons? In this case, it’s just something he’s communicated, but then he’s also written some notes about it, so that makes it a little more serious,” Capt. Hastings said. He didn’t elaborate on what the notes said or who owned the rifle.

MASSACHUSETTS

More charges for chemist in drug-lab scandal

BOSTON | A Massachusetts chemist accused of deliberately faking test results on drug samples in criminal cases was indicted Monday on 27 charges, state Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

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