Crime & Safety

Shoreline Bank Robbers Charged in Federal Court

Jack Pershing Sexton and Ronald Claude Kettells were arrested near Lynnwood last week

The two men in their 60s with long criminal histories who are , were charged last Friday in U.S. District Court of Western Washington with bank robbery, armed bank robbery and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

Jack Pershing Sexton, 64, was charged with of $2,136 on July 6, 2011.

Sexton and Ronald Claude Kettells were both charged with robbing Washington Federal Savings in West Seattle on Oct. 20 of $4,976 and using a shotgun and semi-automatic pistol in that robbery.

Find out what's happening in Shoreline-Lake Forest Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sexton and Kettells are also suspected of in Shoreline on Sept. 12 and

They are also suspected of robbing a Key Bank in Seattle on Aug. 8.

Find out what's happening in Shoreline-Lake Forest Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A cooperating witness met with police investigators on Sept. 30, according to federal charging papers, and told them Sexton and Kettells were responsible for the July Key Bank robbery and the Aug. 8 Key Bank robbery. Kettells bragged about the robberies, according to the witness who said Sexton told him he entered Key Bank in Shoreline on July 6 about 12:25 p.m. with a pistol in his waistband and bandages on his face. Sexton told the witness he had seen himself on the Internet and was surprised he had not been identified.

In the July 6, Key Bank robbery Sexton told the teller, “Give me all your 50s, 100s and 20s,” according to charging papers. After the teller placed the money on the counter, he said, “I know that’s not all you’ve got, give me everything,” and the teller emptied the drawer and placed $2,136 on the counter.

He took the money and put in a black messenger bag and fled the bank on foot.

Several witnesses reported seeing an elderly man walk away from the bank and another witness reported an elderly man getting out of an recreational vehicle and inspecting it.

Investigators also discovered that a gray 1991 Ford Tempo was used in the West Seattle robbery and the owner identified Sexton and Kettells as the men to whom he had loaned the car.

The owner of the car told investigators that Sexton and Kettells had moved to 132nd St. S.E. in Lynnwood. Police conduced surveillance on the area and found the two men driving the Tempo, stopped them and arrested them.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Shoreline-Lake Forest Park