Woman pleads not guilty to southern Illinois bank robberies

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - A southwestern Illinois woman has pleaded not guilty to federal charges linked to three bank holdups.

The Belleville News-Democrat (http://bit.ly/1CFJJSi ) reports that 37-year-old Easter Jimison of Collinsville was arraigned Wednesday in East St. Louis on three felony bank robbery counts.

Authorities allege the mother of five robbed the First Collinsville Bank in Caseyville of more than $4,600 on Nov. 7.

Investigators say that on Dec. 5, Jimison demanded cash from a teller at the Bank of Edwardsville branch in Swansea but had second thoughts, apologizing to the bank worker before leaving empty-handed.

Five days later, authorities allege Jimison robbed a First Collinsville Bank branch in Maryville.

No weapon was displayed during the alleged holdups, and no one was injured.

Jimison's trial is tentatively scheduled for March 23.

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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com