Following a plea hearing at the McKean County Courthouse yesterday, Edwin MCPEAK, pled guilty to crimes related to the June bank robbery at a bank in Eldred.

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer confirmed that MCPEAK appeared before a McKean County Judge at a plea hearing on Thursday and entered a plea of guilty to Robbery (of a Financial Institution with use a firearm); Robbery (placing 2 victims in fear of serious bodily injury with use of a firearm); Theft from the bank; and Receiving Stolen Property (vehicle stolen from Olean, NY). 

On June 6th, Pennsylvania State Police-Lewis Run barracks received a BOLO from Cattaraugus County that a car was stolen from Olean and was described as a dark green Ford truck registered to the City of Olean.  Shortly thereafter, multiple calls came in reporting a bank robbery at the Hamlin Bank in Eldred. 

A male, later identified as MCPEAK, entered the bank in Eldred wearing a gorilla-style mask and brandishing a firearm while demanding money from the cashiers.  The offender then fled in a vehicle matching the description of the truck stolen earlier in Olean.

The vehicle was observed by police who pursued it until it crashed on Rew hill.  Officers took MCPEAK into custody and observed loose US currency, a gun, and a backpack inside the vehicle.  Inside the backpack was a gorilla-style mask like the one used in the bank robbery. 

Sentencing is scheduled for November 7th.