A Shawano man accused of robbing the CoVantage Credit Union last year entered a plea of no contest to that and other charges Thursday.
Darrin H. Church, 48, is scheduled for sentencing July 9.
Church was accused of robbing the CoVantage Credit Union at 911 E. Green Bay St. and attempting to rob Cash Tyme at 705 E. Green Bay St.
Thursday’s hearing was scheduled as a pre-trial conference, but no trial date had been set and, according to court records, Church’s attorney Steven Weerts informed the court earlier this month that he was dropping plans for an insanity plea.
The case had been delayed for several months while the defense awaited a doctor’s report.
Church was initially found to be not competent to stand trial after a court hearing in June, but it was also determined he could become competent if treated.
He was ordered held for treatment and incarcerated at the Mendota Mental Health Institute until a November court hearing at which he was found to be competent.
According to the criminal complaint, Church walked into the CoVantage Credit Union just after 3:30 p.m. April 8 and passed a note to the teller demanding money. He then made off with more than $6,000 in cash.
He was also accused of trying to pass a similar note to a teller at Cash Tyme shortly before the CoVantage robbery.
Church had been contacted earlier that same day by sheriff’s deputies who warned him he had to turn over more than $400 he had collected from the sale of Girl Scout cookies. Church told deputies he would pay for the cookies later that day.
Church had also been confronted the day before about unpaid rent, according to the criminal complaint.
After his arrest, Church initially told authorities he had gotten money from his aunt. However, he later admitted to writing the robbery notes at Cash Tyme and CoVantage, as well as one he wrote at Bank Mutual but did not use.
The note was apparently discarded by Church and has not been recovered, but Church told police the note read, “Give me all the money and hurry and everything will be OK.”
There was no information available Thursday on what the state was offering under the plea deal. The robbery charge carries a maximum possible penalty of 40 years in prison.
A count of resisting an officer was dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Church also pleaded no contest Thursday to several misdemeanor counts in two other cases, including defrauding a taxicab driver, issuing worthless checks and bail jumping.