LA MARQUE BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON

GALVESTON – On Wednesday a 56th District Court jury sentenced Heracio Hernandez, 57, of La Marque, to 10 years in state prison for a 2011 bank robbery. On Monday, Hernandez pled guilty to the robbery charge, which carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison. A jury was then empanelled to assess punishment. Prosecutors presented evidence that on November 19, 2011, Hernandez passed a fake bomb through the drive-through drawer at the Regions Bank located on Interstate 45 in La Marque. Hernandez told the bank teller he would detonate the bomb if he did not get $50,000. The teller handed over a large amount of cash, although much less than $50,000, and alerted other employees of the ongoing robbery; those employees notified police. La Marque police officers apprehended Hernandez shortly after he drove away from the bank. Members of the Houston Police Department bomb squad determined that the device at the bank was not a real bomb. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Jon Hall and Reese Campbell represented the State; David Breston represented Hernandez. Judge Lonnie Cox presided over the trial.