It's an example of real life CSI right here in the midstate. A conviction of a bank robber in Lebanon County Court was sealed with the use of DNA.
A man wearing a red bandana and brown knit cap robbed the M&T Bank in South Lebanon last February. Five weeks later, 49-year-old Jeffrey Mitchell of Manheim was arrested on charges of robbery and terroristic threats.
But before he was taken into custody for that robbery, he committed a second robbery at the same bank.
In the Februrary robbery police found a red bandana and brown knit cap discarded by mitchell in a yard on Horst Avenue as he fled the scene. In the March robbery, police sent three cigarette butts found at the scene to a state police lab for analysis. A scientist testified at the trial the DNA from the cigarettes matched the dna found on the bandana and cap.
Lebanon County DA Dave Arnold says the cops knew what to do.
The DA is a believer in the use of DNA.
According to testimony, Mitchell threatened to kill the teller if she placed a dye pack in the bag with the money. He got about $2,500 in the heist.
Mitchell is in Lebanon County Prison on $250,000 bail.
A judge has scheduled his sentencing for February 27. He is also waiting trial for when he returned to the bank in March and committed a second robbery.