Le Mars, Iowa — The other of the pair of Sioux City residents accused of robbing a Le Mars bank before attempting to make their getaway in a U-Haul truck — has now changed her plea to “guilty” in the federal bank robbery case.
On December 12th, 2018, Le Mars Police say a man entered the Iowa State Bank branch in Le Mars and committed a robbery. Following the robbery, police say the robber, who they later identified as 32-year old Phillip White, along with a female later identified by police as 35-year old Karen Merrick of Sioux City, fled in a U-Haul rental truck. The truck was pursued by law enforcement from several agencies before being stopped, at which time White and Merrick were placed under arrest.
Police say the money was recovered from the U-Haul truck after the pair were arrested.
According to court records, Merrick has now changed her plea to “guilty” as part of a plea agreement. The new charge is Accessory After The Fact to Bank Robbery. She could face a maximum prison term of ten years, in addition to a fine and supervised release after her prison sentence.
White changed his plea to “guilty” in June. Judge Kelly Mahoney says White did not plead guilty pursuant to a plea agreement. White faces a maximum prison term of 20 years. Court records indicate no sentencing date has yet been set.
