Bond set for man, woman accused in Springfield bank robberies

James Givens and Amanda Alvarado

James Givens and Amanda Alvarado

Bond was set at $20,000 each for two people arrested and charged in connection to two bank robberies in Springfield this week.

James Givens, 39, and Amanda Alvarado, 35, appeared for an arraignment at Clark County Municipal Court on Friday morning. They were charged with robbery, to which both pleaded not guilty.

Springfield police began their investigation on Tuesday following reports of a bank robbery at Security National Bank, 920 W. Main St., according to an affidavit from the Clark County Municipal Court.

A bank teller told police that a man they believed to be in his 50s or 60s approached their desk and handed them a note.

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The teller stated she refused to open the note, so the man opened it for her, according to a Springfield police report. The teller said that the man placed the note on the desk, and it read: “Give me all the money in your drawer.”

The teller then complied with the suspect’s demands.

“She handed over an unknown amount of U.S. currency to the suspect, and then he fled on foot from the bank,” the affidavit says.

The suspect was seen wearing a blue puffy coat, dark pants, dark shoes, black and green gloves, and sunglasses, according to the affidavit.

Investigators later spoke with witnesses who saw a man fitting the description flee to a light blue car parked at a curb on North Jackson Street, according to the affidavit.

On Thursday, police responded to reports of a bank robbery at KeyBank at 402 S. Burnett Road, another affidavit says.

Witnesses told police that a woman wearing a dark-colored parka coat with fur around the hood, light jeans and sunglasses entered the bank around 9:34 a.m.

A witness said that the suspect passed a note to a teller demanding money. The teller handed money to the suspect, who then fled the bank on foot, according to the affidavit.

Bank employees told police that about $1,500 was taken from KeyBank.

A woman was later seen entering a blue sports style car with a license plate reading FZL7444, witnesses told police.

“They went on to say they weren’t sure if the first letter was an ‘F’ or an ‘E’ but they were sure of the numbers,” the affidavit says.

Witnesses also said the car was driven by a man with a shaved head.

Police found the suspect vehicle about an hour after the robbery and initiated a traffic stop in the 300 block of North Race Street. In the back of the vehicle, police spotted a dark parka fitting the description of the suspect’s coat.

The occupants, Givens and Alvarado, were detained. Givens had $940.25 in his possession at the time of the arrest.

Givens told police that the money was from cashing in his 401K. Investigators determined that to be false.

Givens and Alvarado were both interviewed by police and denied knowledge of either robbery.

The suspects face third-degree felonies and could serve between 9 to 36 months or pay a $10,000 fine, according to a charging document.

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