Man convicted of Modesto bank robbery faces 89 to life

Woman followed parolee's Mustang

Bee Staff Reports

E-Mail

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

A parolee who stole $200 from Bank of the West three years ago, then engaged in a desperate crime spree as he fled from a customer who gave chase, faces 89 years to life in prison.

At the close of a two-week trial in Stanislaus County Superior Court last week, 12 jurors said Edward Jessie Amador, 44, of Modesto is guilty of one count of home-invasion robbery and two counts of bank robbery.

According to the district attorney's office, Amador was on parole for bank robbery on May 12, 2006, when he entered the bank at Ninth and H streets in downtown Modesto and brandished a replica of a firearm.

Amador didn't count on a curious woman outside the bank as he demanded money from a teller and fled with $200.

The customer, who was in the bank's parking lot, noticed Amador's Mustang parked in an alley, with its engine running and driver's door open. She grew even more concerned when Amador sped away, dinging her car with the door of the Mustang.

Knife threat in break-in

The customer gave chase, prosecutors said, following the Mustang to Sutter Avenue, where Amador abandoned his wheels and grew even more desperate.

Amador broke into a home, demanded keys to a car, then grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened the homeowner's elderly mother because the women did not immediately comply.

When the police arrived, the bank customer pointed them toward the Mustang, which had paperwork identifying Amador, including his parole papers, Social Security card, address book and photos taken in prison. He had served time for bank robbery, burglary and auto theft.

Modesto police caught up with Amador at his home on Fort Sumpter Drive, prosecutors said. Amador fled, jumping a fence in his back yard. He was derailed when officers used pepper spray.

A date for Amador's sentencing has not been set.