BANGOR, Maine — A 66-year-old Maine man police say claimed to have a grenade and a gun when he robbed a Hallowell bank in June has pleaded not guilty.
John Cecil Slater entered his plea Wednesday in U.S. District Court and remains in custody.
Prosecutors say Slater, wearing a straw hat and sports coat, robbed a Bank of Maine branch on June 23, making off with $15,000.
The Kennebec Journal reportsthat he passed a note to a teller that read in part: "I have a hand grenade, and a gun, no marked bills, or inked, if so, one day I will come back and kill all of you.''
Slater was arrested in New Hampshire on July 9 after several people recognized the suspect's image from bank surveillance that appeared in the media.