Jeffrey Morris appears in Brown County court via video conference Aug. 1, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Brown County jury acquitted Jeffrey Morris of a bank robbery charge in a case which prompted a change in state law, but did convict him a less severe count of theft from a financial institution.
Morris will be sentenced June 6. A one-day jury trial was held Tuesday.
Morris, 55, robbed the Associated Bank in downtown Green Bay on July 28, leaving the scene with $2,500 after handing the teller a note which said “100s, 50s and 20s,” and then saying “I want it all. All of it,” to the teller. He was arrested a short time later, with the cash.
The statue in question states:
943.87 Robbery of a financial institution. Whoever by use of force or threat to use imminent force takes from an individual or in the presence of an individual money or property that is owned by or under the custody or control of a financial institution is guilty of Class C felony.
Originally, a court commissioner dismissed the charge, noting the statue defines the crime as “by use of force or threat of imminent force” but there were no allegations Morris used or threatened any force. Charges were then refiled. Despite another defense challenge, a judge allowed the case to proceed, saying a jury could make a “reasonable inference” that force was an option.
The jury, however, decided not to convict Morris of that count.
The difference at sentencing is substantial. The robbery of a financial institution charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in the prison system, while the count Morris was convicted of — theft from a financial institution — has a maximum of six years in prison.
The case prompted legislation redefining a “robbery” to include creating circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe the use of force was imminent.
This new definition better aligns with current training policies of bank employees, which instruct them not to resist and to hand over any money when prompted, said state Sen. Eric Wimberger, a sponsor of the bill.
The law couldn’t be applied retroactively to Morris, however.
Morris, who said he was homeless, told police he got the money to buy something to drink on his birthday, or to get a motel room for the night.
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