Delaware News

Duo receive lengthy prison sentences for 2011 bank robbery, shootout with police

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2013



   Dover – Attorney General Beau Biden announced that two Kent County men received lengthy prison sentences this morning for a brazen 2011 bank robbery and subsequent shootout with police during a car chase through Kent County.  William Sells, age 31, and Russell Grimes, age 42, were convicted on a host of charges this past May following their trial in Kent County Superior Court.

“These dangerous offenders placed the lives of scores of victims, police officers, and citizens at risk through their violent behavior and complete disregard for the law,” Biden said.  “The sentences handed down today – in which these defendants will effectively spend the rest of their lives behind bars – is necessary to protect the public and punish them for their crimes.”

On August 26, 2011, Sells and Grimes committed an armed robbery of the Felton branch of the First National bank of Wyoming.  After fleeing the bank, the defendants engaged with a shoot-out with police along an 16-mile car chase through Kent County during which multiple shots were fired, striking at least three pursuing police cruisers from the Felton and Harrington Police Departments and Delaware State Police.  Fortunately, no police officers or civilians sustained injuries during the robbery or the pursuit.  Grimes was arrested on the day of the robbery after being struck in the exchange of gunfire with police.  Sells was arrested on September 6, 2011 following a three-hour standoff with police after he was located at the Shamrock Motel off US 13 near Dover.

On May 28, 2013, following their trial in Kent County Superior Court, the Jury found both defendants guilty of multiple charges.  Russell Grimes was found guilty of Robbery, Conspiracy, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Reckless Endangering.  William Sells was found guilty of Robbery, Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Menacing, and Reckless Endangering.

Before the sentence was imposed today, Judge Robert B. Young approved a prosecution motion seeking to have both defendants sentenced under Delaware’s Habitual Offender Statute, which provides for enhanced sentences for repeat violent offenders.  Judge Young sentenced Sells to 96 years in prison and Grimes to 64 years in prison.  Because both were sentenced as habitual offenders, each defendant’s prison term is mandatory and neither will receive credit for good time while incarcerated.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Susan Schmidhauser.

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Duo receive lengthy prison sentences for 2011 bank robbery, shootout with police

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2013



   Dover – Attorney General Beau Biden announced that two Kent County men received lengthy prison sentences this morning for a brazen 2011 bank robbery and subsequent shootout with police during a car chase through Kent County.  William Sells, age 31, and Russell Grimes, age 42, were convicted on a host of charges this past May following their trial in Kent County Superior Court.

“These dangerous offenders placed the lives of scores of victims, police officers, and citizens at risk through their violent behavior and complete disregard for the law,” Biden said.  “The sentences handed down today – in which these defendants will effectively spend the rest of their lives behind bars – is necessary to protect the public and punish them for their crimes.”

On August 26, 2011, Sells and Grimes committed an armed robbery of the Felton branch of the First National bank of Wyoming.  After fleeing the bank, the defendants engaged with a shoot-out with police along an 16-mile car chase through Kent County during which multiple shots were fired, striking at least three pursuing police cruisers from the Felton and Harrington Police Departments and Delaware State Police.  Fortunately, no police officers or civilians sustained injuries during the robbery or the pursuit.  Grimes was arrested on the day of the robbery after being struck in the exchange of gunfire with police.  Sells was arrested on September 6, 2011 following a three-hour standoff with police after he was located at the Shamrock Motel off US 13 near Dover.

On May 28, 2013, following their trial in Kent County Superior Court, the Jury found both defendants guilty of multiple charges.  Russell Grimes was found guilty of Robbery, Conspiracy, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Reckless Endangering.  William Sells was found guilty of Robbery, Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Menacing, and Reckless Endangering.

Before the sentence was imposed today, Judge Robert B. Young approved a prosecution motion seeking to have both defendants sentenced under Delaware’s Habitual Offender Statute, which provides for enhanced sentences for repeat violent offenders.  Judge Young sentenced Sells to 96 years in prison and Grimes to 64 years in prison.  Because both were sentenced as habitual offenders, each defendant’s prison term is mandatory and neither will receive credit for good time while incarcerated.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Susan Schmidhauser.

# # #

 

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.