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06-14-2017 01:25 PM
A 71-year-old man who said he robbed a bank because he'd rather be imprisoned than at home with his wife blamed his actions on depression in court on Tuesday.
A federal judge sentenced Lawrence John Ripple to six months of home confinement and three years of probation after he robbed a Kansas City, Kansas bank, the Kansas City Star reported.
Ripple made headlines in September 2016 after he got into an argument with his wife, told her he'd rather be imprisoned, and demanded cash from a bank teller only to wait in the lobby for the police to arrive.
Ripple, who pleaded guilty in January, said he suffered from depression after a quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2015 and expressed his remorse in court on Tuesday.
Court documents show that Ripple gave a Kansas City bank teller a note on September 2, 2016 that read: 'I have a gun, give me money'.
After the teller handed over $2,924, Ripple sat in the lobby of Bank of Labor at 756 Minnesota Ave and told a guard he was the 'guy he was looking for,' according to the police report.
An FBI agent says Ripple had argued with his wife earlier and told her in writing he'd 'rather be in jail than at home.'
Ripple, who pleaded guilty to a federal bank robbery count in January, said his depression had gone undiagnosed and that he was feeling like his old self after seeking help and taking medication.
His wife was in the courtroom on Tuesday when Ripple apologized to the Bank of Labor and the teller, saying he didn't mean to scare her during the robbery.
His attorney Chekasha Ramsey called his client's actions a 'cry for help' and pointed to Ripple's clean record prior to the bank robbery.
Ramsey asked for leniency, citing Ripple's health and remorse in a case supported by federal prosecutors.
US District Court Judge Carlos Murguia granted the request, sentencing Ripple to just six months of home confinement. The 71-year-old was facing 37 months in prison.
Ripple is also required to serve three years of supervised probation and 50 hours of community service. The judge also ordered him to pay more than $300 to the bank and a crime victims fund.
06-14-2017 01:30 PM
I heard about this this morning. He's 71, hey, he's probably not a dream all the time to live with either. LOL
06-14-2017 01:35 PM - edited 06-14-2017 01:36 PM
So they put him on six months house arrest with this wife? That makes no sense, are they trying to encourage him to commit more crimes?
He could have just moved out and gotten a divorce.
06-14-2017 01:44 PM
@jaxs mom wrote:So they put him on six months house arrest with this wife? That makes no sense, are they trying to encourage him to commit more crimes?
He could have just moved out and gotten a divorce.
6 months "house" arrest means whatever house he's residing in. He may not be residing with his wife anymore.
06-14-2017 01:46 PM
Wow.
Too bad his doctors didn't catch on to his level of depression and desperation.
06-14-2017 01:54 PM
I'm glad they gave him community service. Maybe this will help him realize there are others he can help and others who need him.
06-14-2017 04:00 PM
@jaxs mom wrote:So they put him on six months house arrest with this wife? That makes no sense, are they trying to encourage him to commit more crimes?
He could have just moved out and gotten a divorce.
@jaxs mom No, apparently they seriously wanted to punish him. I'm sure his wife will suffer too.
06-14-2017 09:29 PM
He robbed a bank......so they sentanced his wife to 6 months of being cooped up 24/7 with him and his depressed @ss????? That's just so wrong.....so very wrong.
06-14-2017 09:33 PM
Hopefully he's on a medication regime that will help him deal with his depression.
06-15-2017 01:53 AM
I feel bad for his wife! Good grief!
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