Bail set at $25G for Peabody man accused in two bank robberies

SALEM – A Peabody man charged with stealing nearly $9,000 from two local banks in the same day will have to come up with $25,000 cash in order to get out of the Middleton Jail pending his trial.Domenic Screnci, 31, of 27 Raylen Ave., appeared earlier this week in Salem Superior Court, pleading innocent to two counts of unarmed robbery – crimes that could net him a potential life sentence in state prison if convicted.As jointly recommended by the prosecutor and defense, Judge Timothy Q. Feeley agreed to set the same bail amount previously set in District Court, but left the door open for the defense to seek a bail review hearing at a later date.The charges arise out of two bank robberies in Saugus and Peabody on May 4.It was about 9 a.m. when a man, later identified as Screnci, walked into the East Boston Savings Bank branch located at 317 Main St. in Saugus.The robber was described by witnesses as wearing a black baseball cap, black shorts and a black sweatshirt and handed a note to the female bank teller demanding money.The teller, in fear for her life, handed over approximately $4,588 in cash. The robber fled from the scene in a late model white Audi, according to reports.About a half-hour later the same robber walked into the Sovereign Bank branch located at 535 Lowell St. in Peabody and again demanded money after passing a note to the teller. He fled from the bank with approximately $4,050 in cash, but as he was fleeing the dye pack went off in the parking lot and he left all the money behind from the Peabody holdup.The cash stolen from the East Boston Savings Bank was never recovered, according to reports.Peabody and Saugus police worked with state police on the investigation. A police officer familiar with Screnci apparently recognized him after viewing the bank surveillance tapes.Screnci was arrested May 28 in Saugus on a warrant.The case was continued until Sept. 22 for a pretrial conference.Assistant District Attorney Michael Patten is prosecuting the case for the state and public defender Rebecca E. Whitehill is the defense attorney.Screnci has been deemed indigent, meaning he has no money to hire his own attorney, the state will pay all costs, but he is responsible for $150 towards his legal representation.