The trial has been delayed for a teenager accused of robbing a Fayetteville bank and fleeing the scene.
The aggravated robbery and terroristic threatening trial of Zachary Porter, 18, was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but will be delayed while the suspect’s attorneys seek a mental illness defense, according to court records in Washington County.
A new trial date has not yet been scheduled, according to the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office.
Porter is accused of robbing the Metropolitan National Bank at 3971 W. Wedington Drive in Fayetteville on Oct. 9.
Officers were told a man walked into the bank and handed the teller a note implying he had a bomb, according to Fayetteville police. Investigators said the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and was later caught by police on Persimmon Street.
No one was hurt in the incident, and police did not find a bomb in the bank, said Sgt. Craig Stout, police spokesman.
Porter remains jailed in the Washington County Detention Center on $50,000 bond, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Police said Porter told them he needed money for rent. But Porter’s roommate said he does not buy that.
“I know he is supposed to pay us $150 every two weeks, and it is coming up where he is to do one payment,” roommate Marty White said. “But, I did tell him as long as he had a job, we would take care of the bills till the 1st and he could just give it to us in full with his first check.”
White said Porter had a job interview scheduled at a Taco Bell the day after the bank incident.
“He just turned 18. He’s still a kid. He is young and dumb and he ruined his life.”
