A felony charge was filed Friday against a 59-year-old man accused of robbing two Palm Desert banks.
Anaheim resident Reese Westenberger pleaded not guilty to one count of robbery during his arraignment Friday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
He is scheduled for his next court appearance at a felony settlement conference Aug. 6.
Deputies were sent to the 73000 block of Highway 111 on July 11 around 12:21 p.m. regarding a bank robbery, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Investigators learned upon further investigation that the suspect entered the bank and approached a teller at the counter, demanding money.
“The suspect did not produce a weapon or indicate he was armed,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
According to sheriff’s officials, the suspect, later identified as Westenberger, ran from the bank in an unknown direction after the robbery.
Westenberger was also linked to a bank robbery on June 24 in the 72000 block of Highway 111, which is under an ongoing investigation, sheriff’s officials said.
He was booked Tuesday in the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of robbery.
Anyone with information regarding the robberies was urged to call Investigator Villasenor of the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at 760-836-1600.