United States v. Samuel Dewitt Crenshaw and David Allen Gordon, United States of America v. Dennis Leo Lehman

Samuel DeWitt Crenshaw and David Allen Gordon appeal their conviction for bank robbery. Dennis Leo Lehman, tried separately, appeals his conviction for aiding and abetting the robbery.

I. Factual Background

The manager of a small rural bank in Belfair, Washington, received a call from a man representing himself as an attorney. It was agreed that the attorney would come to the bank later that day with two clients. Shortly before closing time two men arrived and told the manager they were waiting for their attorney. Just before the bank closed the manager received a phone call from a woman claiming to be the attorney’s secretary, who said the attorney had had car trouble, could not make the meeting, and wanted the men to put their money in a safe deposit box overnight.

As soon as the bank was closed, both men drew handguns and ordered the employees into the vault. The employees were ordered to place all the money in a trash can liner. A total of $120,890.00 was taken. After the robbery witnesses saw two men with a suitcase crossing a field toward the local airport. A small aircraft was then seen taking off in a southerly direction.

Two weeks later Gordon, Crenshaw, and Lehman…