Organic farmer who doubled as serial bank robber gets 10 years | Crime

A former organic farmer from Port Townsend who led a secret life as a bank robber was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.

Michael John Fenter pleaded guilty in March to holding up banks in Seattle, Tacoma, San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif. In a string of robberies that shocked many people, including his wife.

Fenter's wife, who operates Compass Rose Farms near Discovery Bay, said she knew nothing about the robberies. The couple has three children

"(These were) carefully-planned, sophisticated crimes," said Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Costello. "Violent crimes became part of who the defendant is."

In court on Monday, Fenter appeared remorseful.

"I had a different mindset when I went into this. I was not specifically out to get anybody or be against anything. What I am for is real justice, real truth within our system of government," he said. "I'm done with the destruction, and I want to walk forward on a path that brings positive healing."

According to court documents, Fenter's spree began on Feb. 4 last year when he held up a Washington Mutual bank branch on Fourth Ave. in Seattle.

Fenter entered the bank, demanded cash and told one of the tellers that he had highly explosive material in a briefcase he was carrying, and said he could wipe out the bank. He got away with $9,200, threatening to detonate the bomb by remote control if the teller called police.

Fenter used the same bomb ruse twice in California, according to court papers:

- On April 15, 2009, he robbed a Bank of America branch in San Francisco, claiming that his name was "Patrick Henry" and that he intended to take the money and give it to people who needed it. After the teller filled his bag with $43,000, told her he would detonate a bomb with his cell phone if she called police too soon.

- In August 2009, Fenter robbed a Wells Fargo branch in Sacramento, saying the money was for "the cause." He claimed to have associates outside the bank and showed the bank manager an ear piece as if he were in touch with conspirators who could detonate the bomb. He got away with $34,000.

On Oct. 8, 2009, Fenter held up his last bank.

He entered the Bank of America branch in Tacoma and told the assistant manager that he wanted to make a large transaction. He then showed her the contents of a black box that appeared to contain wires and an antenna and claimed he had a triggering device for the bomb.

"I could hardly talk. I could hardly hold a pen to write down what he wanted. I was so terrified," said teller Susan Bungert.

Fenter told the assistant manager that the robbery was not about the bank, but about a fight against the government, and gave her 10 minutes to fill his black bag with money. Another bank employee saw what was going on and called police with his cell phone.

Fenter was caught a short distance away from the bank. He had a fully loaded Glock .40-caliber pistol in a holster on his hip.

The device he claimed was a bomb was analyzed and found to contain a commercial grade blasting cap and battery, although the two were not wired together. Had they been wired, the blasting cap could have exploded, injuring anyone nearby.

"To this day my heart races when people come into my bank -- my customers, who might carry a briefcase, a backpack," Bungert said. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about it."

Fenter was nicknamed the John Doe Bandit after his arrest because he confessed to the robbery but refused to give his real name.

He even went so far as to put a glue-like material over his fingers to prevent authorities from getting easily getting his fingerprints.

Police were eventually able to determine his real name by removing the glue from his fingers and matching the gun to him as well as a nearby 1995 BMW and his familiar face on a Washington state driver's license.

Fenter was ordered to spend five years on supervised release after completing his prison sentence and must pay $86,000 in restitution.