[1]Larry G. Bailey, right, listens as his lawyer addresses the judge in Lewis County Superior Court about a delay in his case.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The upcoming trial for the suspected bicycling bank robber was postponed today, after lawyers told a judge federal authorities may want to take a crack at prosecuting the case.
Larry G. Bailey was arrested on the morning of Jan. 26, after ditching a BMX-style bicycle on Chehalis’s West Street overpass, with a deputy in pursuit, about 45 minutes after an individual with a similar description implied to the manager of Chase Bank at the other end of town he had a gun and was taken into the bank’s vault.
The 52-year-old had $36,000 tucked inside a floral print cloth bag in his backpack, according to police.
Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead told Judge Richard Brosey this morning he just spoke to federal authorities about a week and a half ago.
“I know the probation officer was aware of it, but I don’t think the FBI or the (Assistant United States Attorney) was,” Halstead said.
Bailey has several previous federal bank robbery convictions and was on probation at the time of the incident, according to prosecutors.
Halstead, Bailey and defense attorney Chris Baum appeared in Lewis County Superior Court, scheduled for a pre-trial hearing.
Baum joined Halstead in suggesting they postpone both the hearing, and the trial that was on the court calendar for the week of Aug. 3.
“We need to get a response from the feds as to whether or not they’re going to take it,” Baum said.
Police said Bailey had just arrived in the area few months earlier and showed an address on the 1500 block of Bishop Road, at an address for a church near an encampment.
Bailey has pleaded not guilty to first-degree robbery and possession of methamphetamine.
If convicted and the state can confirm the prior robbery convictions, it could be a third strike, making him subject to mandatory life imprisonment without parole
He remains held in the Lewis County Jail on t $250,000 bail.
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For background, read:
• “Suspected Chase Bank robber believed to have numerous similar convictions” from Tuesday January 27, 2015, here [2]
• “Chase bank robbery suspect facing possible third strike, pleads not guilty” from Thursday January 29, 2015, here [3]