Judge Denies Bail Reduction for Local Bank Robbery Spree Suspect

An alleged bank robber lost a bid today to have his $2 million bail reduced.

Donn Patrick Thompson, 44, of Riverside was arrested Friday and identified as the suspect in hold-ups in Murrieta and Temecula.

Thompson appeared with his public defender before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Judith Clark at a bail-setting conference at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. The defendant's request for a reduction in his seven-figure bail was denied, in part because of his prior felony convictions.

Clark scheduled a felony settlement conference for Jan. 8. Thompson, who remains in custody at the Southwest Detention Center, is charged with three counts of robbery.

In Murrieta, Thompson allegedly robbed the Pacific Western Bank on Kalmia Street on Dec. 9 and a Chase bank branch on California Oaks Road on Dec. 11. The defendant is also accused of robbing a Citibank branch on Ynez Road in Temecula on Dec. 13.

In each instance, the robber handed a note to a teller demanding cash and walked out after receiving the money, according to Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad, who said no one was injured during the robberies.

The bandit wore a beanie, sunglasses, a sweatshirt and sweat pants, Conrad said.

According to court records, Thompson has prior felony convictions for burglary, passing fraudulent checks and illegal possession of a firearm. He served time in prison for each offense.

—City News Service